The mid-1950s was a barren spell for Arsenal. It got little better as that decade closed and became the 1960s. The only thing that seemed to be swinging at on this day fifty years ago was the hangman's noose waiting for George Swindin's managerial career to end. His successor, W.A. Wright, Esq., would fare little better.
The announcement was altogether more measured; sombre if you include the paragraphs about Accrington Stanley's fate, parallels with Portsmouth of today.