Cod Almighty | Diary

Don't be the single point of failure

3 August 2026

Miss Guest Diary writes: That's pre-season just about done then. Six games: three wins, three draws, no losses; goals scored 11, goals conceded two. Of course, I hear you say, pre-season games mean nothing – minutes in the tank, to quote Lincoln City after their 5-1 defeat on Tuesday – but it feels like a positive start to me.

Of concern is Jamie Walker limping off the field on Saturday, Turi missing the game after receiving a knock last Tuesday, and the continued absence from the squad of Reece Staunton, Josh Andrews and Cam Gardner. On the plus side, Kristian Catchpole looks like a real find. He's only 17 but his appearances in recent games have shown a young man who is comfortable playing adult football, and the pass which led to Cooky's goal on Saturday was reminiscent of Wonderful Wayne Burnett.

Artell was sanguine in his post-match interview, conceding that Town need to "bring some more players in" but pointing out that the transfer window is open for another month and they're not building a team for the first game but for the season. Also suggesting that the delay in starting the Premier League season due to the World Cup has had an overall delaying effect on transfers.

It's inevitable that fans will check out how ex-Town players are doing, especially ones who were popular but left despite being offered new contracts. One such is obviously George McEachran, who some have been quick to point out has already scored for Chesterfield, something he rarely managed for us. Now it seems that Evan Khouri is on trial at Lincoln City, playing in their pre-season game against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday. We shouldn't begrudge players moving on to further their careers, it's quite normal in the 'real' world too and something many of us have done. I think what can cause resentment is the stories, probably dreamt up by fans themselves, which circulate about a player's reasons for leaving. A recent favourite has been that they want to "go back down south", made much of when McEachran went to Chesterfield, a mere 22 miles due south. And now possibly Khouri to Lincoln, which is only a further 2.3 miles due south of Grimsby. Personally, I say good luck to them both.

Last Friday A46 diary gave you chapter and verse on the Infantino-led bid by FIFA to sell off the World Cup. Thankfully, the gnome of Zurich has had to back down and international football is slightly safer for the time being. But I do wonder whether it was only the Trump connections of the private equity firm involved which scuppered the deal; whether it would have gained more traction with the not-so-squeaky-clean folk at UEFA if he'd chosen a less rancid business partner. I dare say we'll find out if Infantino gets re-elected next year and comes up with another money-making wheeze.

Sometimes I really love the fact that everyone I know is fully aware of my Town obsession but many of them know less than nothing about football itself. I was highly amused last week when one of my friends asked me anxiously whether FIFA's plan would have an impact on the Mariners, and was able to assure her it definitely wouldn't!