Cod Almighty | Diary
So, tell me how you got the unadvertised job at the business where your husband is a director?
28 July 2016
Devon Diary writes: Last night our gallant heroes played another pre-season match, this time away at Gainsborough (nice hashtag, I like it). You can read Matt Dannatt's report on it here but if you're relatively sober and can't face the Telegraph's ad-heavy website then here's the gist.
Town played OK in the first half. Omar and Luke Summerfield both got on the scoresheet with cracking goals before Trinity rallied and we fell apart in the second half. It ended 3-2 to them and while we say that pre-season's all about fitness – about testing new systems and about seeing who has the character we need – surely by now we want to see a few wins and more goals? It's our last chance on Saturday so with a bit of luck Hurstses will pick his strongest XI and line them up in a likely starting formation.
Notable last night was the appearance of one Scott Vernon who seems to tick a few of the gaffer's boxes by being (a) a target man, and (b) available on a free. It seems as though he did OK and maybe he'll turn out for us again on Saturday against his first club, Oldham. Did you know he played at Blundell Park last season? Yep, he played 80 minutes for Shrewsbury before being replaced by one Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro. Neat, huh? According to the Telegraph today, Deputy Doig has confirmed we're interested in Vernon so watch this space. Or that space. Or the Fishy.
Yesterday, your original/regular Diary smashed it out of the park with his explanation of why the new format for Football League Trophy is a fucking disgrace and why we should turn our backs on it until it fucks right off and dies in a corner. (I'm paraphrasing, of course: he was far more eloquent.)
There's not much more to add on this whole sorry, tawdry affair other than that Chelsea B are favourites to win the Trophy, followed by Southampton B, Middlesbrough B, Sunderland B, West Ham B, Leicester B and Everton B. So thanks John Fenty and your fellow board member. Thanks for voting us out of contention for a competition we once won. I should make it clear that the two board members who are blameless in this are Dave Roberts and Jon Wood of the Mariners Trust, who weren't consulted and in fact were totally ignored while the FL AGM was taking place in Portugal. Take note of this: there's a theme developing.
Finally, in a week when Town raised (or is it lowered?) the bar for piss-poor communications, when they vomited forth some incomprehensible garbage about the violence which marred Saturday's friendly with Sheffield United, I bet you're wondering how they might manage to top that.
Well, wonder no more. Yesterday we learned that the club has appointed a supporters liaison officer. Sounds good, no? Well, it does until you realise that the SLO is none other than Susan Mullen, the wife of board member Lee 'Lottery Cash' Mullen. What an amazing coincidence! I'm sure Susan declared that potential conflict of interests when applying for the role. Except that it wasn't advertised. She asked and the club thought that would be grand.
How was it announced? On the club's website? Twitter feed? Nope. Susan posted in on a closed fans' Facebook group of which she is an admin. That's how the season ticket printing cock-up was announced too, you might remember.
Apparently, the appointment was made a while back, but the club didn't think it important to let supporters know about the appointment of a supporters liaison officer. I understand the Mariners Trust hadn't been told of her appointment either, which is odd, given that they have a seat on the board. The club obviously let the Football Supporters' Federation know though; otherwise how would they have Susan named on their list of SLO contacts? Oddly enough, she's contactable via her husband's email address. Did anyone say "conflict of interests"?
The FSF has lots of useful information about the role of the SLO but one thing that jumps out is that "the person should have a level of independence". That surely cannot be possible if he or she is married to a director of the club?
Anyway, I'm sure you'll join me in welcoming Susan and her wealth of experience in fan engagement. Some of you may know her from her previous work, which includes accusing the Mariners Trust of not handing over all of the money raised during Operation Promotion. Stay classy, Grimsby Town, stay classy.
One more thing. If you're going to appoint someone into a role at the club, at least brief her on things such as the Trophy vote or point her at a range of sources. Her assertion that the vote was a mere formality and that 90 per cent of clubs were in favour is incorrect. Trotting out the same rhetoric as the club as to why Fenty +1 voted for the changes does little to convince fans that the SLO will sit between fans and club, representing both positions.
**Update**
13:15 There was clearly an almighty kerfuffle following Susan's announcement last night and the Trust have just announced through the Telegraph that we will now be having three (count 'em) SLOs.
- Kristine Green of the Trust will have the responsibility of representing the views of fans home and away.
- Daphne Farquarhson, of the GTFC Disabled Supporters' Association will be the representative for disabled supporters.
- Susan Mullen will be responsible for any fundraising or social issues.
There are still questions to be answered though:
- What the hell was happening with the wife of a director announcing her role as SLO like that?
- Is this all massive backpedalling?
- How did Susan appear on the FSF website as SLO?
- Where is the impartiality?
- Will the club ever do this sort of thing properly?
Up the Mariners!