Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Saturday 26 April 2003

26 April 2003

Georges Santos has emerged as the ace of spades in the Town's Most Wanted pack of cards. Possibly in a bid to pre-empt any further efforts by local media to whip up supporter discontent, the club has gone public with its desire to retain the services of the rugged Frenchman. Mariners chairman Peter Furneaux explains that the player is "off back to Belgium at the end of the season," which, given that the player's family was last seen in the south of France, sounds a little ominous. "The club have asked him how much he wants to stay at Blundell Park," announces Town's official site, presumably hoping Santos will stretch out his arms as wide as he can and say: "This much!"

The Grimsby Telegraph, meanwhile, turns its attentions to Phil Jevons, the former Everton striker who promised Grimsby so much but delivered so little. Jevons, lest ye forget, has spent nearly all season on loan at Hull, where he has vindicated Town's decision to let him spend nearly all season on loan at Hull. "Jevvo will stay with Hull until the end of the season and then he will come back," says Paul Groves, never one to digress. A return to the first team at Blundell Park is doubtful on financial as much as footballing grounds, as Everton are due another wodge from the Mariners' barren coffers if the Scouse underachiever plays many more games. The word we're looking for is limbo, and I'm not talking bending yourself in half under a pole.

Several first-team regulars, meanwhile, turn out among the reserves at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon, where the Mariners succeed only in confirming their final bottom position in Division One with a game to spare. Greg Young makes his debut in defence, Graham Hockless his in midfield and Jake Sagare his up front; but the biggest surprise of the day - apart from Town scoring a goal - is on the right of midfield, where Groves displays an admirably bloody-minded sense of humour in giving arbitrary fans' favourite Terry Cooke a full 90 minutes away from home. The match is over by midway in the first half as Reading amble to a two-goal lead, though Michael Keane pulls a token one back in the 90th minute. An hilarious 7-2 away win for relegated Sheffield Wednesday over serial thrashees Burnley takes the Owls five points clear of Town in 23rd place, if anyone still cares.

A casual glance down the leagues to see how Division Two will look next season, and Wrexham join Rushden and Hartlepool in confirming automatic promotion from the third, while Scunny and Lincoln - probably spurred on by Town's relegation - both record wins, with Laws's lot now certain of a play-off place in sixth position and Big Keith's boys a good bet to join them in seventh. The results raise the tantalising, not to mention congestion-causing, prospect of an all-Lincolnshire play-off final with the winners joining Town in the second division. C'mon you Imps!

And finally, Richard Dawson emails the Diary simply to say: "Please stop making ageist comments." After reading back over recent Diary entries, I can only conclude that exception is being taken to the epithet 'aged' as applied to Peter Furneaux on this page yesterday. Which was, of course, intended to indicate respect for the GTFC chairman's wisdom and experience. Any old how, Richard, no offence - you're as tough as old boots, anyway, my old mate, and an old hand at winding me up, eh. I'll buy you a pint though, just for old times' sake.