Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 31 October 2002

31 October 2002

John Oster is back at Blundell Park! Probably one of the two or three most technically gifted players ever to grace the black and white stripes, the precociously talented winger made his Town debut in November 1996, aged about 12, and left for Everton for a record £1.9 million the following summer after a brief but glorious half-season of first-team action under Kenny Swain failed to stave off relegation to the second division. Having won four full caps for Wales but failing to secure a decent run of first-team action, Oster moved on to Sunderland in 1999 but couldn't get into the team there either, and has today returned to Cleethorpes on a month's loan in the hope of resurrecting both his career and Town's season.

Getting itchy fingers ahead of its annual 'Up the Mariners' rally in the spring, the Grimsby Telegraph is lauching a 'Keep Kabba' campaign to persuade the Mariners' on-loan goalscoring superstar to stay at Blundell Park for the rest of the season. Kabba's club Crystal Palace has given its blessing to the extension but the player is biding his time over a decision; and with three goals in the last two games, young Steven could be holding Town's first division fate in his hands. Come on Steve - you know you want to.

Town's offer of two free tickets for children with every adult ticket is being extended to this Saturday's clash with Gillingham - at the behest of manager Paul Groves, according to the GT. The club is already the cheapest in Division One to support, and offers like this are leaving armchair fans increasingly short of excuses.

"We tortured them football-wise," insists reserve team coach Paul Wilkinson of his team's 4-1 defeat at the hands of a strong and experienced Rotherham reserve side at Blundell Park yesterday afternoon, explaining: "The scoreline was not a reflection of the game." Wilko was impressed by the midfield performances of erstwhile forward Chris Thompson and long-term trialist Jamie Pollock - whose ears may have pricked sharply up at rumours of an irretrievable breakdown in negotiations with Georges Santos.

Terry Yorath, coach of lowly Sheffield Wednesday, has denied Town the chance to add his guts to their glorious trail of managerial carnage by resigning before we get the chance to play his struggling side.