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Cliff Byrne had finally signed permanently having impressed during his loan spell a couple of months earlier and United finally looked to have a side that could seriously challenge for a top three spot.
The only down points being Andy Dawson leaving to cross the Humber for his bag of gold and striker Martin 'The Gentleman' Carruthers leaving to join Macclesfield, meaning Laws had to find someone else to warm the Glanford Park bench.
Their replacements were greeted with a fresh sense of optimism; Kevin Sharp joined from
All was looking fine and dandy indeed. Surely promotion would be visiting
Three months and thirteen games have come and gone since then though and United find themselves in a lowly 13th place. A full four points off the play-off's and a mammoth thirteen points off Humber rivals Hull City who incidentally sit top of the league mocking the Iron like a cat with the cream, or an Andy Dawson if you prefer.
Saturday's home defeat to
He refuses to drop a disinterested Torpey even though he has a perfectly capable replacement in Paul Hayes, his players are playing like beaten men even before a ball is even kicked and he continues to play a clearly injured Nathan Stanton and then criticise him in the local media after matches as well as blame anyone and everyone but himself for his side’s lacklustre performances.
Publically criticising his own players isn't something Laws has done in the past but in the last three games alone he has passed the blame to Nathan Stanton twice, Richard Kell, Sam Russell and his own players alleged inexperience.
An excuse which these days just doesn't wash, if Laws is so concerned about his players' inexperience surely he should pick players with ample in the criteria. Sam Russell and Andy Butler could both be replaced with Tommy Evans and Mark Jackson while the rest of his defence with the exception of Cliff Byrne have more than enough experience.
His midfield of Beagrie, Garcia, Kell and Sparrow are all seasoned campaigners nowadays and Steve Torpey is in the final days of his career up front (hopefully).
Brian Laws is running out of excuses and the supporters are fast running out of patience. The Iron's crowds are now being affected and so it seems just a matter of time until the trigger is finally pulled on Mr Laws...