THE problems that have arisen with the team since the departure of Paul Parry have not been what we might have expected.

Rather than the chances drying up, the problems have been at the other end where we've been leaking far too many goals.

One of the components of a successful side is to be able to keep clean sheets and to scrape a 1-0 win when necessary. But, although there have been far too many individual errors, we have to defend as a team and we've not been doing that particularly well.

In training this week we shall be putting the emphasis on defending with the aim of going to Gravesend on Saturday to keep a clean sheet.

That doesn't mean we shall be concentrating on total defence as we have full-backs who like to go forward. I've never been of the opinion that full-backs shouldn't cross the half-way line and going forward is one of Ryan Green and Michael Rose's main assets.

So some minor adjustments may be necessary and it looks as if Andy Tretton may be available. Our other long-term absentee Steve Guinan has come back and rekindled what he was doing before his injury. Although he didn't score on Saturday, he made some good chances for himself and for others, as well as winning the penalty.

While it was doom and gloom immediately after the game, on Saturday there is time for analysis, whether it's reflecting quietly or watching the video of the game.

Then on Sunday morning it really hits - but, ever the optimist, my son Andy brought around a print-out of Chester's remaining fixtures and they've got some particularly tough games between now and the end of the season. There's a big gap but we have no thoughts of writing off our chances of the title.

There's a Conference chairmen's meeting this week and one of the main issues will be the Exeter situation.

If Exeter win their case against the Conference it may result in football creditors no longer being preferential. This, for example, could mean that if, by some chance, Cardiff had to go into administration then any future payments to us for Paul Parry would be lost or reduced.

I don't believe that the Conference should foot the bill for an issue affecting all of football.

The case also means that payments for TV matches have been cancelled. The cancellation is retrospective, going back to our Boxing Day match with Exeter. This can hardly be fair as, effectively, it means we have contributed £5,000 more than any one else to the fund.