Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 18 July 2003

18 July 2003

With five new players already having joined and most of the best among the out-of-contract brigade agreeing new deals, the miserablism that normally ploughs through the heart of Town supporters like some sort of purpose-built urban expressway has largely been bypassed this summer. And with the news that Jason Crowe is training at Blundell Park, some Grimsby fans may now even secretly dare to smile. The Portsmouth wing-back has featured strongly in his side's ascent to the Premiership, and Harry Redknapp's apparent willingness to release the player has left some among the Pompey faithful questioning his sanity. Twenty-four-year-old Crowe - who began his career with Arsenal and was capped by England at under-18 level - is generally considered way too good for Division Two; and should he join the Mariners, his acquisition would probably represent Paul Groves' greatest transfer coup to date. The player would fit in at left-back or left midfield to Groves' 4-4-2 system.

Still no sign of a centre-forward, though; and Phil Jevons' rejection of the new terms renegotiated between GTFC and his agent leaves the Mariners marginally lighter still in striking personnel. The languid Scouser, you will remember, faced a future of reserve football at BP because of the ITV Digital-era payments due to Everton with each first-team appearance the player makes. BBC Humber today reports that Town offered Jevons an extra year on his contract in exchange for the reduced terms that would offset his appearance money; and the agent accepted the new deal only for the player to say no. "We understand that Phil has been to see his parents and he's rejected that deal," explains Peter Furneaux, adding that another loan to a third division side would see young Pip whipped soundly and sent to bed early with no supper.

Georges Santos may be history as far as Town are concerned; but the elephantine behemoth of a defender hasn't found it quite so easy to get away as he may have hoped. As his new team Ipswich jetted off on their pre-season tour of Scandinavia the notably sizeable Frenchman was left jumping up and down on the runway like a crazy person following a mix-up over tickets. Manager Joe Royle stayed behind with Santos to head off any last-minute dash back up the A1, and the two eventually joined up with the rest of the squad eight hours late. Peter Furneaux, meanwhile, has revealed that the player gave no indication that he was bound for Portman Road despite having joined the Mariners for pre-season training, which is just downright rude. "He is of that mind that he will go wherever he wants to go," says the Town chairman, pointing towards his head and drawing circles with his index finger.