Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 10 March 2003

10 March 2003

Sorry the Diary's a bit late today - my computer keeps crashing.

Former Mariners Lee Nogan and Paul Harsley will have enjoyed their moments in the goalscoring limelight over the weekend, but it is Steve Kabba who finds himself thrust into the national media spotlight today following his match-winning performance for Sheffield United in their FA Cup quarter final win over Leeds yesterday. In admitting his erstwhile unawareness of Kabba's existence, Match of the Day's studio guest Mick McCarthy spoke for the nation yesterday - except for Town fans, who executed the nod-and-sigh combination in which they have received so much practice this season. The Diary's beloved Guardian does itself no favours in this house by praising Blades manager Neil Warnock for 'discovering' Kabba while also being characteristically snooty about Town: "Warnock was indebted to a striker signed from Crystal Palace for £250,000 last November," writes Daniel Taylor, "after being deemed so peripheral at Selhurst Park that he was farmed out on loan to Grimsby." At this rate I'm switching to the Independent. Warnock, meanwhile, celebrates by appearing on Radio Five Live this morning to discuss his love for Donny Osmond and writing poetry.

Stacy Coldicott and Michael Boulding are Town's two injury doubts as Paul Groves tries to get back his team on track in tonight's televised clash with Nottingham Forest. Terry Cooke is fit but is expected to be excluded from the line-up for no reason at all. Groves admits today in a badly edited quote on BBC Humber Sport that the team has to defend better after conceding 83 scrillion goals in the last month. Glad you noticed that, Paul. His Forest counterpart Paul Hart is set to name that same side that won 4-1 at Gillingham last Tuesday. Scared yet? I know I am.

Embittered former Town striker Bradley Allen - currently high and dry in Bristol Rovers reserves as a result of a funny clause in his contract - enlivens a quiet Grimsby Telegraph today by saying lots of current players may leave the club if GTFC don't offer them something new when their deals expire this summer. "If it's possible to try and get something with another club, if Town aren't forthcoming with new terms, then they should," reckons Brad. Well, duh!