Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 23 October 2008

23 October 2008

Former Town striker Martin 'Oooh, Me Back!' Butler has spoken of his regret at the completely rubbish way his career at Blundell Park unravelled completely rubbishly. Until his contract was cancelled/paid up in full/paid up in full with bonus free pizza and Wii console (delete according to your level of Grimbarian gloominess) earlier this month, the player spent most of his time at home in Hereford following his non-move from Walsall last season - although when he could make it along to his job he looked more likely to score the goals Town sorely need than anyone else who's pulled on the black and white stripes in the last couple of years. "I'm disappointed the fans didn't see the real Martin Butler because that's what I wanted. They probably think I'm rubbish after what they saw of me and I wish it was different," says the player in a Grimsby Telegraph interview today. But if Butler did only half a job, his non-performance has sadly been matched by the Telegraph, which reports: "The 34-year-old lasted just 12 months on the east coast after failing to come to terms with a 360-mile commute from his Midlands home." FAIL. It was a 180-mile commute from his Midlands home; a 360-mile round trip from his Midlands home and back again. The Diary is still awaiting any evidence of a sub-editor within 180 miles of Riby Square.

Mike Newell, meanwhile, has pledged to give his coaching staff a chance to prove their worth, just as he offered a clean slate to the players. "Replacing any members of the backroom staff is not something I've thought about," the recently appointed Town manager, for whom the Diary remains at a loss as to any potential humorous nickname, has told the Telewag. "When I got here, I said I would give the players chance to prove themselves and I'll do the same with the staff. They have a chance to show me what they're capable of." It's all worked out well so far, of course, as Straight Peter Bore has responded well to the offer of a fresh start under new management with one or possibly two goals in three games after seemingly being written off for an apparent lack of dedication by not only Lord Alan Buckley but also York manager Colin Walker during the player's recent loan at Bootham Crescent. We can only hope a similar success story awaits Town's assistant manager Stuart 'Boooo Cheap Option Fenty Boooo' Watkiss after seemingly written off by large sections of the Mariners' support for no good reason that is readily apparent at all apart from a mumbly Brummie accent.