Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 20 December 2005

20 December 2005

Intrigue. Drama. Intense speculation. None of these things seem to have happened very much at Grimsby Town Football Club since they were recently told by a very rich Swiss gentleman, who has never visited northern Lincolnshire in his life, that they were only allowed to sign new players when he said so. But the pressure created by all the steamy transfer gossip that has been repressed since Sepp's randomly generated transfer window closed at the end of August is set to send the thing flying off its hinges when it opens again in just 11 days' time, and the streets of Grimmo are alive with talk of crack deals, pregnant schoolgirls and a possible move for Simon Yeo. The 32-year-old striker scored 46 goals in three seasons with Lincoln before doing one to New Zealand last summer, but has yet to pick up the language and says it's almost like being in a foreign country.

So are we after him or not? An interview with Sky Sports appears to find Mr Russell Slade dead keen. "I've got a list of names I'll be targeting over the New Year and yes, it would be fair to say that Simon Yeo is on that list of names," blurts cuddly Russ, who could have formed a more concise and satisfactory sentence by omitting the words "it would be fair to say that". The public of Lincoln are duly going bonkers at the prospect of Yeo becoming a Mariner - but soft! In a Grimsby Telegraph interview the Town boss admits he likes the cut of Yeo's jib, and repeats the "I have a list" motif, but insists: "Yeo isn't on that list." Hopelessly muddled communication or a repositioning of the manager's cards closer towards his chest? You decide.

Slade has also set minds a-wandering and tongues a-wagging with the astonishing assertion that clubs from the top two divisions have been enquiring after "about six" of his players. Tony Crane is said to be mightily relieved that he resisted the temptation to go on loan to Worksop Town last month.