Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 16 October 2008

16 October 2008

So far he is cautiously optimistic about our plight, he is pragmatic, and his reputation has dictated that good old Grimbsy has gained lots of column inches since his arrival. So your Guest Diarist feels obliged to excuse the fact that the Mirror told us last July that Mr Newell is big mates with old strike partner and shithead scaredy-cat Alan Shearer.

Mr Newell has given a beautifully timed and balanced interview today to the Telewag where he explains his cautious position about strengthening the squad. In it he recognises the need for a sensible and equitable wage structure for the different levels of players, admits the difficulties (money notwithstanding) of bringing higher-profile players to a struggling club in North East Lincs, and recognises that "the growth of the club on the field has to run concurrently with its development off the field".

Meanwhile Town chairman and local Tory hotshot John Fenty has spoken of the end of the Butler saga, about which Mr Diary told you yesterday. The Telegraph believes that Butler can't now play for anyone until January. This can only be a good thing - Butler getting paid for doing nowt is one thing: the prospect of him getting paid twice for the next three months would be beyond the bloody pale wouldn't it? As Deadly John says: "It has cost the club money and we didn't want to pay but it is a relief to settle and move on." A-flipping-men.

When Liam Trotter arrived I hailed it as a great loan signing. The question is, was I foolish to do that? Trotter sort of does what it says on his tin: he always looks at half pace. Perhaps, as with that likeable German bloke Ballack, this is a peculiarity of his gait and he covers vast numbers of pitch miles, always arriving in the vicinity of the ball a couple of seconds late but still to offer succour to stricken ball-carrying teammates by providing what the pundits refer to as an out-ball. Any road, it looks like we might get another month to make our minds up as both Mr Newell and the lad himself are anxious to renew the loan. Let's hope Ipswich say yes eh? See yer.