IT’S that time of year where letters are written to the big guy in red and so I thought I would consider what I would ask Jolly Saint Nick while we have this fallow period without any games. First and foremost, I want a football club. I know that sounds a bit daft but we’ve had some had a few financial scares in recent years and as such, having a year where the fans aren’t having to dig deep to help out with running costs would be great. Fortunately, we seem to have some committed and talented people involved in the running of the club so hopefully 2018 will be a bit more calm and sustainable.

Now that the money is out of the way, I’d like us to avoid relegation. It’s mad to think how quickly things have unravelled on the pitch. Midway through the fifth month of the season and we sit just two points above the relegation zone. Our form is more akin to a team below the dotted line rather than above it. If Santa could do something to help out, I would be extremely grateful. I enjoyed our three years in the Sticky Glue League but we are back at a level that smells and feels like where we have been before. I have no desire to go back to Frickley Athletic or Ossett Albion, regardless of how fantastic the pub across the road from the ground is.

If I were being a bit more greedy in my Lapland-bound correspondence, I’d ask Father Christmas if he could somehow summon a highly unlikely run to the playoffs. Now it actually isn’t that farfetched. Despite having been pretty poor for most of the season, we are still only nine points off the playoffs. If we could somehow string three or four wins together, we would suddenly surge up the table like a juggernaut. In fact, just last season, after Tommy Wright took over at Nuneaton, they went on a good run which for a little while suggested they could make the playoffs before falling away towards the end of the season. It’s not impossible. The only stumbling block could be winning games. Given our current form, we might actually struggle to win another three or four games all season, never mind putting them together in a string of results.

Perhaps improbable, another request to Kris Kringle would be to concede fewer goals. As we approach the season of giving, I would like us to bring to an end the season of giving – well, actually the last season and a half of it. If I were Tommy Wright, I would insist on the players tacking a leaf from those who have got not giving at Christmas down to a fine art: Ebenezer Scrooge and The Grinch. Rather than continuing to gift wrap goals for our opponents, let’s be mean and not give them anything at all. If we get taken off their Christmas card list, so be it.

Finally, I was going to ask for a new striker but we found Reece Styche in the cupboard under the staircase a few weeks ago and decided to play him right away. I’m sure you’ll be disappointed that we didn’t wait until the big day but I think you will understand that needs must. Anyhow, on the face of it, he appears to be exactly what we needed so cheers for that. I suspect with my requests I’ll have to be patient – apparently good things come to those who wait.