Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 16 May 2005

16 May 2005

As the days and weeks have gone by with no revelations about a new contract for the Mariners' greatest legend, the club's fans have started to worry, even as they have continued to support the campaign for him to receive an honour from the Queen for his loyal service to the club, which is perhaps unparalleled in the modern game. With the future of their hero still in the balance, and his recent form having suggested that he could still attract the interest of other sides, could Town hold on to the greatest defender ever to don the black and white stripes? Or from this summer onwards, would supporters have only their golden memories of his glittering career at Blundell Park for comfort? Well, today the waiting is over, and Grimsby supporters can breathe a huge sigh of collective relief with the glorious news that his most royal exalted excellence, the one, the only HRH Sir Glen Downey wants to stay with the club.

Oh, and some bloke called McDermott is going to sign for Town tomorrow as well.

Other football news now, and: cuh, that Malcom Glazer, eh? Cuh! I dunno, it must be terrible having a multi-squillionaire buy your club, eh? Cuh. Especially when it's not for sale. And when I say 'not for sale' I mean apart from the bit about it being publicly listed on the stock exchange and hence, er, for sale. Still, power to the fans, and Glazer is sure to be quaking in his boots when he realises what he's up against. The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMUSA), for example, is in the forefront of the battle for the big heart and grassroots soul of Manchester United. IMUSA spokesman Mark Longden presciently announced in October last year that there was "no way" Glazer would persist in his efforts to take over the Reds and, flushed with the success of his prediction, urged United fans to boycott this season's FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle in protest at its being played in Cardiff, where 69,000 people could go and watch it, rather than Elland Road or Villa Park, where 40,000 people could have gone and watched it. Cuddly Malc will have noted with some interest the result of IMUSA's call to stay away from the match, which was that 69,000 people went and watched it.