Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 3 February 2010

3 February 2010

Mardy Diary writes: Cast your mind back, just over a year ago - say early December 2008. Take a look at the squad for any particular match. Yup. You might see Atkinson, Bore, Hegarty, Stockdale... possibly Jarman. And that's it. Just over a year and our entire squad has almost completely changed - not that it hasn't needed a change, but it can't continue like this. I'm sure Neil Woods will be in agreement: stability - of the squad, of the team and putting professional structures in place is what should be our goal now. I don't doubt there'll be more changes in the summer - once contracts and loans expire we'll be left with a "first team" squad of around 15. Some of those loanees will no doubt sign up should we stay up, some of the players out of contract may sign new deals - and there will be more new faces. But next January I don't want to see anybody new coming in - I want a well balanced, well-performing, steady squad by that point. I'll accept loans to cover injuries/suspensions, I'll accept players coming in to replace any that may leave. But other than that, I don't want another overhaul - wherever we may be. Same manager, same players - just for a few seasons. We've tried the chopping and changing, and (surprise!) it didn't work. Now it's time to try being rational and measured - a difficult ask for most football fans and chairmen, I know.

So Danny North has gone - and he's said some really nice things to the Telegraph so I wish him all the best and I hope he does well wherever he goes. It would be pitiful and typically 'Grimsby' to have anything negative to say about North at this moment in time. Good on yer Danny - you've left honourably and with respect, a proper professional. He's spent over five years as part of the first team set-up, and longer if you count his time as a youth player. That makes Danny one of our longest serving players - so he deserves respect. But who are our longest serving players now? Let me tell you: Peter Bore (57 starts) and Nick Hegarty (89). Amazing isn't it? Bore signed for the club (aged 12) in 1999, so the notoriously straight boy is in his 11th year (isn't he due a testimonial?) and Hegarty followed in 2001. After that - it's a bit more tricky. Atkinson has been here a while if you count his various loan stints - and after Hegarty he is the player with the most starts for us (83). After that we've got Stockdale (only 30 starts), Proudlock and Jarman (both 37). As for time at the club, I've no idea how long Overton and Bird have been at the club but I suspect they may not make it past the summer.

So there you have it folks: change is good, but it is also bad. Upwards and onwards. Seeya.