Dear John

Periodically, I will print out the comments and snailmail them to him at the Vetch. Any replies that I receive from him will be posted here.

John Hollins has contacted me to say that he will only reply to messages sent to him via the Swans Say message board on the official site. I will, however, continue to send him the messages you post here.

Dear John

Oi John !

Is it not dawning on you that the team are struggling ?
The game against Carlisle could have gone either way, you have an
obligation to all Swans supporters to either SAY you have no money and get
on with it or go and GET some players to bolster a good squad.  Or of
course leave.

Dont be dragged in to the Silver Shield debacle, you have a long pedigree
and apparently a lot of respect.  The longer you ensure we struggle, the
longer people will question you.  You have had 14 months to look at
players, it dosent take that long, so get positive, leave the cliche's in
the dustbin and do your job.  Its not much to ask, people know whats
needed, its plain to see from all the  messages you get.  Are they all
wrong ?

We dont have to struggle to go up, or get a play off place, we can do it
in style, so why dont you make sure we do.

Cut off those strings, get positive, and if you cant - say so !  14 months
is too long, and people are questioning your credibility, if thats what
you want fine, but surely you want EVERYONE on your side, and Swansea City
in Division 2 ?

Dont you ?

Keith - The Midlands Avon & Gloucester Swans 
Gloucester
15.8.99

Dear John

I am fascinated on why you didn't sign John Cornforth, earlier, you said
he was the type of player we needed and after last seasons injuries I
thought we were destined to sign him, but SHOCK, HORROR!, back page of the
evening posttold tthe story how a Jack Legend will not be coming back, how
can you do this to our fans, NO SIGNINGS? Come on John, you and I know we
need to strengthen the squad, before we move to a godd stadium, let's get
a godd team to play in that good stadium first eh?

Craig Williams
Port Talbot
14/8/99

Dear John

You said that John Cornforth was not the type of midfielder that
you were after. As a matter of interest what type ARE you looking for.
Please don't say a terrier, because in my eyes you missed out on a good
prospect, and a free transfer from C*****f in the summer when Wayne
O'Sullivan went to Plymouth. I've known of him for a good couple of years
now (while he was playing under Steve Mcmahon at Swindon Town) and I'm
pretty certain that if you'd made a move for him that he would have been
more than happy to stay in South Wales, and it would have been nice to
have seen a good player going in the right direction for once (I can't
remember the last time a Bluebird went direct to the Jacks) 

Are you going to go in to the market or are you going to trust the players 
that you've got already!!! Personally, I really don't care, at the moment as 
you've got the makings of a superb team and the morale is higher than I can
remember. OK so we lost at York but we more than made up for it against
Millwall. I was prepared for both results, (check out Garys' predictascore)
and so should have been a lot of other so called true supporters. I unlike
a lot of them, TRUST YOU, it's just the Hierarchy that I don't trust.

Whereas you are assessed with results ON the field, they should be OFF it.
It would be nice to see them coming up with the goods so that you can do
your job better. Anyway, cheers for now. Will be back in touch at a later
date. All the best for now. Jerry

Jerry Edwards
Carterton, Oxon
13 August 1999

Dear John

i'm a cardiff supporter second but first im welsh, good luck in
the comimg season in the future i hope all 3 welsh clubs r in the first,
(not all cardiff fans think the same) all the best gillian

gill samuel
CARDIFF
09 aug 1999

Dear John

I am writing in concern at the number of signings you have made - 0.
I don't think and can't see how anyone can think that the squad now is
good enough. Bound Smith, M.Thomas, Freestone, S Jones and Appleby on his
day are all quality players, why can't we see anybody else at the vetch
like that. As for the John Cornforth matter you must be the only person
who knows anything about Swansea who didn't think he was good enough, and
now he's at Cardiff - if he's good enough for Divison 2 surely he's good
enough for Div 3.  Also what happend to the Striker - Bob taylor , James
Thomas both just left alone.  The whole of Swansea believes you can get us
up there put still one or two new faces are needed.

JACK ARMY!!

Stuart davies
Swansea
9-8-99

Dear John

Curious!!! I find it that after the West Ham game last season
when finances were to be made available to bring in new players, You
choose not too beleiving that the players were good enough to gain
promotion. All accepted your beleif. Towards the end of the season it
became obivous to most if not all one or more players needed to be brought
in, and lets be honest we were lucky to reach the playoff's.
 Curious!!! I find it but again you choose not to strengthen. standing by
 the players you had?????.

Your end of season comments were "I will bring in new players for the new
campaign to achieve automatic promotion.

suspicious I've become that all the players you've named, none of them
have been brought here. Why? Mr Hollins is it that you did'nt sign
Conforth the real reason. final note! I've been promising myself a BMW the
last couple of years but cannot find the one I want in the price range my
wife expects me spend.    

Ross
Swansea
9th august 1999

Dear John

I was at York City on Saturday and a lot of the supporters are calling you
a puppet.  Why dont you sign a good player from all the ones you said are
available ?  I dont think your name is Hollinochio, but my dad does.

Paul Vicars, Broadmead
Bristol.
9.8.99

Dear John

After watching the performance at York yesterday, I cannot
believe how you keep saying that this squad is good enough. O.K a lively
start creating a couple of half chances, but we are still lacking that
killing strike to produce a goal which, with the amount of pressure we put
them under, it should have come. That's how promotion is won at the end of
the season, taking a couple/one half chance(s). Then they scored.
Admittedly, against the run of play, but thier first half chance
produced a goal. From then on we did nothing. We sat back as usual while
they attacked. Fortunately for us they were just as bad as we were. Second
half, no improvement. Passing simple balls to feet seemed impossible with
90% of possession given away. First substitution. Price on for Cusack??
Coates put in centre midfield. Cusack seemed more amazed than the
travelling fans. What's going on? We need to buy new players, soon, to
stand any chance of promotion. Sell Appleby because he just does not want
to play for us. Did you hear the applause for the team from the travelling
fans at the end of the match? It's a long way to travel to watch shit. MR.
HOLLINS, "THIS SQUAD IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH"

Clive Martin
Llanelli
08/08/99

Dear John

next time you come to scunny we will remind you when brian laws
battered you in dugout in extra time. mark lillis is at halifax now so im
sure he will beat you up good then johny boy as for us we beat  you haha
and now were in a higher diision!!!!!!!!!!!1

matty
scunthorpe
Aug 7th, 1999

Dear John

Now after six years in exile (and about to return home to brill
Wales), I have but one request, is there any money left to bolster our
squad, come on John 400 days without a signing and a start to a new
season, lets make it a good one and start the new millenium in the second,
I'm Swansea till I die!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason Palmer
Swindon
5 aug 99

Dear John

why dont you sign john cornforth and give nick cusack a free
transfer 

simon
neath
3-8-99

Dear John

Why didn't you sign john conforth you know we need a
player of his quality.

kevin Evans
2,8,99

Dear John

Warren Patmore, Yeovil. Maybe he is striker you looking for:

If not, find someone else, soon. Don't only promise.

Raimo Issakainen
Mäntsälä/Finland
20.07.1999

Dear John

Thanks for a thrilling season. In particular, our FA Cup run,
something we're not used to, the last good run ended with 
a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle United a few seasons ago. Just 
a damned shame that we missed out in the Play-Offs like 
we did. 

All I'll ask John, is firstly, please please please, stay with us. 
You're a fantastic manager at our level, and you're
building one hell of a rep with the supporters, even though 
you're English, Ha Ha, says the Welshman in England. 

Seriously though, you've proved to be a better manager than 
my Jack Hero, Jan Molby. Initially, I thought the board were 
wrong getting rid of him, but in your one season in charge, 
you've achieved even more than he did, though the sad ending is
what will live in most peoples minds, I just wish it wouldn't. 

On to the second comment. Can you have a kind word in the 
ears of the likes of Mr Mclure and Mr Hamer and ask them if 
they are going to finally give us some answers as far as the 
new ground is concerned. So many of our supporters have 
called Gary Martin's Website (a very well kept and informative 
site I will add) and got no answers from him, and I don't really 
want to bother a Guy that's too far up the chain, though I'm not 
too far off doing that now am I. 

All I'll say is, as before, please stick with us. I certainly believe 
that we're a sleeping giant, that has awoken for a very very brief
period already, and is just waiting for your excellent leadership 
to take us forward again. Even if you don't bother replying to this, 
I'm sure I speak for a Hell of a lot of true supporters that would 
love to see you in charge next season(and for many more to come) 
and take us forward, and above the other type of bird further up the 
coast. All the Best, John, and cheers.

Jerry Edwards
Carterton, Oxon
15 June 1999

Dear John

Thank you for a terrific season, especially the FA cup. I was
disappionted that we missed out in the play-offs but I know 
that you and the lads gave everything.

Diolch yn fawr,

Barry Nichols
Swansea
12/6/99

Dear John

Us Jacks thank God for your arrival, you are our knight in
shining armour, by providing us new hope after the travesties of recent
times You have brought a new meaning to the words ENTERTAINING FOOTBALL
and what an achievment for you, personally making only a couple of
signings, you have proved that Money doesn't make footy go round Unlucky
at scunthorpe and Good Luck to you and the players for next season

P.S. PLEASE DON'T ABANDON US!

Craig Williams
Port Talbot
June 9 1999

Dear John

Thank You very much for a nothing if entertaining and improved season.

The main theme of my letter is to thank you for talking to us away fans at
games. The man 'Cork' absolutely ignored us at Leyton Orient last year and
I for one was disgusted with the arrogance of the man.

I was deeply touched by the genuine 'Sorry' you gave us at Scunthorpe at
the end of the game. The supporters I could see all clammering to shake
your hand. We will all be behind you next year. Lets go up automatically
and show all the doubters.

Best of Luck,
Please Stay, you are wanted,

Julian Turner
Swans Supporter (24 Years)
Kings Lynn
4th June 1999