Losing Curle after relegation was a complete and utter disgrace, especially after already losing Flitcroft and Quinn.
We were also on the verge of losing Lomas too it meant we lost so many natural leaders, that were all big in the dressing room in such a short time.
We committed leadership suicide back then at a time we most needed it, the one thing that dressing room lacked after relegation was some strong leadership.
Adding to that Beagrie's long-term injury and then subsequent sale upon his return plus swapping Nicky Summerbee for Craig Russell, there's so many terrible decisions following our relegation and losing Curle despite ageing topped it.
Even at the start of that 95/96 season getting Alan Ball our worst ever manager for me, him being so completely clueless not only tactically but in the market replacing Coton with Immel and also replacing Phelan with Frontzeck, then most criminally swapping Paul Walsh for Gerry Creaney and giving them money too (which still makes me feel sick to my stomach). Any one of those catastrophic things not happening just by pure luck, even under his totally inept management it stops us going down, he truly hammered down three nails in our 95/96 coffin.
One of Coton Walsh or Phelan being a regular saves the club from relegation in 95/96, just one but we were were shockingly bad at replacing our players between 95 and 98.
Kevin Horlock and Gerard Wiekens were our only two good signings between relegation and Joe Royle's appointment.
I can't help but have a rant whenever I think of those terrible times, but I digress... Keith Curle was quality defender with great pace a great penalty taker and a leader too.
