Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 30 May 2006

30 May 2006

Just as the Diary was winding down for a lazy World Cup summer, where the only real Diary work would be googling the names of Sladey's trialists to keep track of which one is the African midfielder who played twice for Bordeaux in the 2003-04 season and which the newly released winger-cum-forward from Doncaster Rovers reserves, we could be looking at a hunt for a new manager. With the Mariners not having announced last Monday after all that Mr Russell Slade had signed a new three-year contract, the boss's future remains as up in the air as a large helium balloon - and Positive John Fenty is losing patience. "We've failed to agree terms with Russell so we're left in a situation where that contract is null and void," the chairman has told the BBC. "We've asked Russell put forward what does he want [sic]. We want him to tell us so we can make a decision about who is going to be the new manager." Last week's rumours linking Slade with a move to third division Yeovil have coagulated into a story in the Western Daily Press revealing that his contract expires tomorrow and he's off on his jollies. "If things are right and we can thrash things out, I'll stay," says Slade. "There is only one small detail that needs addressing." In the immediate term Town fans can breathe a sigh of relief with the news that Hoof Alexander has just been appointed at Peterborough.

Oh, all right - if we have to. Two of your emails today return to the subject of Town's awful paralysis in Cardiff on Sunday. The first is from TV celebrity Al Wilkinson, who writes simply: "I'd like to congratulate the Diary for being arsed to turn up the day after certain other individuals couldn't. Thank you. The minute spent reading Monday's Diary was better than any in the 99 on Sunday." The second is a somewhat longer missive from Sibbo, and it goes something like this...

Hi Diary. Like many Town fans, I'm on a bit of a low at the moment. So decided to turn to CA, fully intending to write of my feelings on the Millennium mess. After reading the Diary I found that I could only echo everything written. It wasn't so much about the day but the future. Yes, the players that will remain and who will be the man in charge?

When Russell Slade first came to Grimsby, two seasons ago, he had little to work with, either player-wise or financially. Early games showed promise but had little cohesion. Suddenly after a run of five or so away defeats, Russ changed the team's style of play but persevered with his three at the back lark. That, I think, was his major error. Along with faithfully sticking to Anthony Williams in goal. The Town fans can be cruel to someone they dislike but they're fairly good at spotting a good player. And just as good at spotting a bad one! Let's face it: Paul Simpson soon sorted it and Carlisle ended top of the pile. Not that I'm suggesting one player makes such a difference. There'll be a few tears shed if Mildo heads south though. Some of Russ's acquisitions excited whilst others made you wince. The jury remained out on the rest. Last term our season petered out like a damp firework. The only thing keeping interest towards the club was optimism - because it's our club and we want it to succeed.

The start of this campaign saw new players come in and as we all lamented the passing of Thomas Pinault, I doubt anyone gave him a thought at Cardiff. Players move on and sure enough someone will take the place of ones moving on during the close season.Will they be as good? Well who knows? Fact is, this last season has been a vast improvement from the one previous. Derby, Spurs, Newcastle are all memories to savour.

To me Russell Slade has stamped his mark on Grimsby Town Football Club and of all the people moving on, I hope he's not one of them. Yes, I've not always agreed with his style of play, but I've seen enough to know he can put out a footballing side and with the experience he's gained he can improve further. What are the options? The success of our youth team gives cause for optimism so we don't have to feel all doom and gloom. Whatever happens during the next couple of months, I'll be back to watch the next instalment of GTFC next August, because it's my club and I want it to succeed. See you all there of course.

What do you reckon, then? Has the real Shim Sladey stood up as far as he can, or do you dread the thought of another new Town team starting from scratch? Email diary@codalmighty.com with your thoughts.

Match-fixing is one of those things one normally associates only with corrupt Third World dictatorships such as Italy, so it will surprise many that a game recently played in England's fourth division could be investigated by the FA following a dodgy goal and some interesting goings-on in the Asian betting markets. Considerably less surprising, however, is that one of the teams that may be involved is Boston 'Brown Envelopes' United, whose place in the Football League was attained during a season that turned out to have involved 'irregular payments' to their players. The Daily Mirror speculates that the Slippery Pilgrims' visit to Carlisle Five on 25 March is the match causing concern, with huge amounts of money having been staked on the Cumbrians to win by at least two goals, and the last of their goals in a 4-2 win being scored while Boston's keeper had gone up for a corner. Had Town's county cousins not been involved, the Diary's world-weary shoulders would already be shrugging sceptically, but as things stand the Diary's only surprise is that, given their various other misdemeanours, Boston never considered match-fixing sooner. "It is quite obvious that whoever has started this rumour has a grievance against this football club," rages BBEUFC chairman Honest Jon Sotnick. You'll have to narrow it down a bit further than that, Jon.