Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 22 April 2003

22 April 2003

Town chairman Peter Furneaux promises new signings and a "new beginning" for the Mariners this summer as the dust begins to settle on the club's relegation to Division Two. The man with the unenviable task of running a professional football club in a town where nobody likes football also reveals that a big new sponsorship deal is imminent. Speaking in today's Grimsby Telegraph, Furneaux counters his detractors by pointing out the combination of circumstances to have conspired against Town this season (ITV Digital, big clubs being allowed to write off debts, nobody in the town liking football) and the fact that the board has invested as much in the club this season as was taken in gate receipts. "Despite the size of our income compared to other clubs," says Mr F, "and some have wage bills five times that of ours, we have still given these so-called major sides a game." The Diary is hard pressed to think of many such occasions this season but admires the chairman's spirit nonetheless.

Meanwhile Paul Groves, who handed ammunition to his detractors by refusing to go over and clap them after yesterday's fatal defeat to Walsall, has been explaining his feelings - far from an everyday occurrence, but it's not every day you get relegated, I suppose. "What do you expect?" says the troubled player-manager, on Town's official site. "Do you expect me to accept that we're relegated and I'm happy with that? No thank you. I'm going to show my frustrations - I'm going to show my emotions." When the Diary said Town's style was too English, this isn't quite what it had in mind.

Team captain John McDermott joins in the group hug. "I feel for Grovesy," Macca tells the Telegraph. "I really do. He's a good coach and a good manager - but look what he's had to work with." The player also acknowledges the feelings of supporters. "What can we say to the fans? They're feeling as low as we are. They played their part this season, especially away from home. At home this year we've let them down at times." True, but considering some of what his team-mates and manager have had to put up with from the stands, Macca deserves a new contract for his remarkable generosity of spirit alone.

In all the weekend's excitement of travel, drinking, relegation and MY BIRTHDAY, the Diary clean forgot to mention one or two other titbits that cropped up - the most gratifying of which was the return of the Grimsby Reaper to claim the soul and livelihood of Crystal Palace manager Trevor Francis. Francis becomes the latest in a long and illustrious line of bosses to have been given their marching orders immediately after a match against the Mariners - although to the best of the Diary's knowledge he is the first to be sacked for only beating Town 4-1. Still, as Walsall proved yesterday, they all count. Taste that scythe, Trev!

Somewhat less exciting, though possibly just as bizarre, was the appearance on the scoresheet of former Town midfielder and Olympic pointing champion Tommy Widdrington, who bagged two for Hartlepool as Town's east coast rivals drew 2-2 at home with Rochdale. The Diary remembers Widdrington's behaviour on 4 May 1997 and strongly urges fellow GTFC supporters to give the player the reception he deserves next season.

Following my Michael Boulding mix-up at the weekend, the Diary is pleased to observe the Guardian's Jeremy Cross go one better and prove his worth as a professional sports journalist by writing the wrong name for a player at Grimsby Town Football Club. In yesterday's Guardian match report on Town's clash with Sheffield Wednesday, the long-range volley from Chris Bolder that was the only half-decent bit of football all afternoon was attributed to the player's brother, who turns out for first division Derby County. So unfamiliar is Cross with the GTFC squad, then, that one may be tempted to observe that he doesn't know them from Adam. Which of the brothers will be insulted remains unclear: the Rams midfielder is the better footballer, but which is better looking?

Oh, did anyone see Corrie last night? I was on my way home and missed it, so if you could email a synopsis to codalmightydiary@yahoo.co.uk that would be super. Ta.