Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 6 June 2003

6 June 2003

Wes Parker's ears prick up at the news that a switch across the Humber Bridge for John McDermott could still be on the cards, according to Hull boss Peter Taylor. In a transfer affair becoming every bit as tedious and protracted as the David Beckham one, Macca's move to the KC Stadium was thought to have broken down after Taylor turned his attention instead to released Tottenham right-back Alton Thelwell, but hasn't, after all, actually. "Our talks have not really progressed as we'd hoped," the man who broke the bank at Filbert Street admits to the Hull Daily Mail, "but there is still a chance something might happen." Bored now.

A flitting flutter around the leagues today, and the administrators are speeding off to the club everyone who knows what's what loves to hate, Charles Koppel's franchise outfit formerly known as Wimbledon. The Milton Keynes side has been brought to its knees by Dons fans' magnificent boycott last season in favour of their new club AFC Wimbledon - but will probably recover next season because the suits always win. Further proof that all businessmen were bullied at school comes from the arrogant sod who runs Gillingham, Paul Scally, who has changed the colour of the Gills' home kit to 'reflect the corporate identity' of new sponsor Sea France - and faced with protests from justifiably pissed-off fans is now threatening to run home and tell his mum. And sell the club. And former Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale is in talks to take over second division Barnsley, where he will not, presumably, find another 90 million quid waiting for him to flush down the bog.

Yesterday's meeting of Football League chairmen, meanwhile, failed to ratify recent proposals to penalise clubs that fall into administration and extend the play-off system from four to six teams. The measures will now be discussed again at a league EGM in September, meaning the play-offs will remain unchanged for the 2003-04 season. That'll be Town finishing seventh in Division Two then.

And finally, the Diary, on behalf of all the Cod Almighty team, would like publicly to congratulate our CA colleague and simiophile Andy Holt on his marriage tomorrow to the delightful Joanne. He'll have his work cut out bringing up the kids to support Town when they move to New Zealand though. All the best, both of you, and we'll see you in church. Andy's London wedding means there may not be a Diary this Sunday, as Mrs Diary has used our voyage to the south as an opportunity for us 'to lunch' with her family in Hertfordshire. I'll try and get online at some point, but if I don't you'll know why. Bye!