Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 31 January 2006

31 January 2006

Town have given up on Martin Gritton and let him join Lincoln City, which was only a matter of time, since Martin Gritton appeared to have given up on Town about six months ago. The former Torquay striker was the only player in Russell Slade's squad to have commanded a transfer fee, having joined the Mariners for £5,000 just before Christmas 2004, and tootles off down the A46 for a similarly nominal sum after a disappointing return of six goals in 30 starts and 23 appearances as a substitute left many supporters denouncing him as lazy and calling him a tramp for daring to transgress the Grimsby 12-millimetre maximum male hair length regulation. Much as the Diary was prepared to extend a little more patience towards Gritton, I am equally happy to recognise two advantages in his departure: one, the wages freed up for the more effective striker Mr Russell Slade will doubtless bring in later this afternoon; two, no more fucking soul-meltingly tedious messageboard threads about him and that whatshername who presents that footy programme on satellite telly.

Eh? What? The more effective striker Mr Russell Slade will doubtless bring in later this afternoon? That's right. The Town manager is continuing his efforts to sort it by adding at least one further name to the three acquisitions he has made so far this month before Sepp's transfer window slams shut on the world's hopes of future happiness at midnight tonight. So keep checking back here, because there may be Diary updates later if Russ gets lucky - but in the meantime, kids, remember: if it looks like Luton's official website, and it sounds like Luton's official website, and it tastes like Luton's official website, then it probably is bullshit.

1:21pm update
Mmmmm... mushroom chop suey. Oh, sorry... well, Town's hopes of hanging on to the man who is almost single-handedly leading their push for promotion have ended. The club may have been absolutely determined to retain his services, but in the end money talks, and Tommy Taylor has left Blundell Park, possibly for a better-paid position working the arcades down Meggies seafront.

4:39pm update
Michael Reddy's replacement has been announced as Gary Cohen, whose season-long loan from Gretna has become a 'permanent' contract lasting until the end of next season. Luton haven't confirmed the signing of Reddy yet, but it's bound to happen soon. Uh-huh. Deffo.

5:15pm update
Clearly in denial about the Reddy-to-Luton story, the Grimsby Telegraph is reporting that Town are in for "Swansea City wide man Marc Goodfellow". A winger? Woohoo! The player, who has sticky-outy ears much in the style of Andy Parkinson, is said to be heading up to BP for talks about a transfer until the end of the season. Is that the lot, or what...?

6:09pm update
Goodfellow has signed for Town until the end of the season. If I were Tony Butcher I would insert a gag here referring to a film about lots of well-dressed gangsters. There may be one more to come, but it's unlikely - signing, I mean; not gag referring to a film about lots of well-dressed gangsters.

6:52pm update
Russ has been thwarted in his efforts to bring in one more player, probably to the benefit of the legendary Glen Downey, who rises right up the pecking order of reserve defenders in the absence of Tony Crane, Simon Ramsden and Matt Bloomer. The club has still not confirmed Michael Reddy's transfer to Luton. Must be some problem with the text messaging or the web server or something, eh?

Thank you for staying with the Diary through this transfer deadline day, and don't forget to join us tomorrow, when we will try to ascertain whether Marc Goodfellow could be the new Gary Childs or just another Terry Cooke.