Harty on . . . Gus Poyet and Rebels’ pay-what-you-like day

He must sometimes think he did as it all appears to have gone wrong for both him and the Albion since our emphatic 3-0 St Patrick’s Day win against Crystal Palace at the Amex.

In the days that followed, then Premier League club Reading made an approach to the Albion to speak to Poyet about their then managerial vacancy.

Like the old Harmony hairspray ads, we had days of ‘is he or isn’t he’, before the Royals apparently went for the cheaper, compensation-wise option, in Nigel Adkins.

While play-off qualification followed, it ultimately all went wrong – with the Albion having to endure the indignity of Palace coming back to the Amex and winning the second leg of the semi-finals and the rest, they say, is history.

Gus departed, in one of the most distasteful episodes in the club’s history, where neither side came out with any credit.

When you strip it down, I believe the bottom line was Gus and Tony Bloom could work together, but Poyet and Paul Barber couldn’t.

Basically, as it is ostensibly his club, Tony Bloom had a choice – it was either Barber or Poyet. He chose Barber and whether or not, in the overall history of the Albion, he will be vindicated in his choice, only time will tell.

Like countless managers before him, things didn’t work out for Poyet at Sunderland.

His exit on Monday threw up the inevitable question. Would I ever want to see him managing back at the Albion? Instant answer, yes, if the circumstances were right, 100 per cent.

Because, if he hadn’t allegedly run that cat over, the Albion would now be in the Premier League, of that, I have no doubt.

n As seasons go, Worthing FC probably haven’t had a campaign like it for many years.

Blighted by financial problems off it, which in turn had a knock-on effect with the players not receiving any wages or expenses since Christmas, doesn’t seem to have affected Adam Hinshelwood’s squad’s challenge for a Ryman South play-off place.

This Saturday, Worthing not only host fellow play-off hopefuls Folkestone Invicta at Woodside Road, with a 3pm kick-off, the match carries a ‘pay-what-you-like’ admission charge.

This won’t really affect the die-hard Rebels followers, who are acutely aware of the financial situation at the club, and I’ve no doubt both their loyalty and generosity will be evident on Saturday.

What I’m also hoping for is that, with the Albion playing away to Blackburn, a number of locally-based Amex regulars will take the opportunity to not only see a cracking Ryman fixture but also help their hometown club.

The club’s plight, especially prior to Christmas, was well documented in this newspaper.

I was personally concerned about the long-term future given the circumstances.

But, thankfully, the situation has been rectified and Worthing Football Club does have a bright future – something which I hope will be enjoyed by the local footballing public, both young and old.