Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 31 August 2006

31 August 2006

1:34pm
There are just under 11 hours until the deadline for permanent signings, and the only news so far of fresh blood is Town's non-signing of Danny Senda. Senda, the kind of nifty ball-playing full-back you see and wonder why he isn't plying his trade a couple of divisions higher, was due to sign for Luton during the summer after leaving Wycombe. But this 'dream move' didn't materialise and it turns out that the player's then agent scuppered his chances. Which has left him with Millwall. Another "no way close and no cigar" is hidden in the same report on the OS, the club giving the first indication that they made Georges Santos "a very good offer". So good that he opted for Brighton, who, like Milwall, play a division above Town.

"Football had been boring me for years and I needed something else to occupy myself." What sounds like a gripping Grimmo Telegraph exposé on Town fans who now spend their Saturday afternoons in B&Q (or Friday nights down the pub) is actually an interview with Curtis Woodhouse. The Driffield Dweller, who brought numerous assists and occasional bite to the Town midfield earlier this year, is talking (again!) about his move from football to boxing. "I had decided [when leaving Birmingham in 2003] I did not want to play football, I was sick of it. I was going to do boxing - but then the pay cheque came through at the end of the month, and I thought, I can stomach it a bit longer." See, it's not just us normal non-footballing types who have to drudge to work every day with only a pay cheque to keep us remotely cheerful. Those fans still bitter about Woodhouse conceding the penalty during the Cardiff debacle may be happy to learn that "I have not earned a penny since I stopped, but when this season kicked off and I wasn't involved, it was a big relief." With the displays of the current Town midfield, maybe a quick Cod Almighty campaign to give Woody some easy money might be in order...

Talking of fighters, after his bout with Hull heavyweight David Burns, "Chairman" John Fenty has stepped in to the ring with Fen "The" Butcher. For those who can't recall, JF welcomed his opponent to the ring with a jab last Friday: "It hurts when players join you and they don't fully commit themselves." POW! The Butcher has responded under the GT's headline Futcher hits back at Fenty. "I always gave it my all when I played for Grimsby - always 100 per cent." THUD! "I may not have played well in every game but it wasn't for a lack of trying - I always gave my best." OOOF! "Things change quickly in football... When I signed a three-year deal at Grimsby... we had a different manager for a start." SMACK! "If the chairman or the manager felt my head wasn't in it personally, then why was I playing [at the start of the season]?" WALLOP! "My job is to defend and keep clean sheets so it is understandable that fans have a pop when we let goals in. But I think it was a bit unfair to blame me individually, or the boys at the back. We should be defending as a team and, in a lot of the early games, we weren't doing that." DING DING!

Gary Cohen's on his bike. Don't worry! He's not had enough of fans asking why he hasn't scored yet this season; it's an exercise bike, as Gaz continues his rehabilitation from an operation on his knee. Yes, Dave Moore has the technology and he can rebuild him! Word from the bearded one (and what a fine beard Gaz has cultivated, too) is that he's "got a bit of tendonitis which has gradually got worse. There's movement in the knee but there's quite a bit of pain in it so we'll just have to see how it goes." Indeed. Also popping up on Mariners World is young striker Andy Taylor, making a nervous debut in which he repeats the words "hopefully I'll get a chance". On the prospect of making his debut he reckons he'll be nervous yet excited, want a goal, and just to play well. Awwww! If you get the chance, Andy, good luck!

Which leaves us to see if Rodge will net the midfielder and forward the OS reckons he's after. Stay here throughout the day to see.

3:57pm update
Is it really seven months since the last transfer window closed, and Michael Reddy became Luton's Michael Reddy? No news yet, and I've been giving the front page of the OS the old CONTROL and R every five mintues. There's a Singles Night coming up though. No news on a follow up Boundaries Night, ho ho. And Friday night games have been axed. It's not Town, sadly, but rugby league team Bradford Bulls "after a wide ranging fan consultation including the opportunity for all fans to vote on their favoured proposal". I think you know what I am getting at.

Time for a cuppa and dunk a custard cream or two.

5:18pm update
"Is there footie this Saturday?" is the enquiry in a text message from my mum, hopeful she'll get some time with her granddaughter when I drop her off on the way to the footie. Do you see what you're doing with this Friday game lark Town? DO YOU?

No moves yet. Ever get the feeling we'll be picking up the dregs after six pints come closing time tonight?

5:35pm update
A signing! Except it's tomorrow night's opponents Macclesfield, having recaptured Matthew Tipton from Bury. In his previous spell at the Moss Rose he notched up 50 goals in 131 games. Blimey.

7:42pm update
The only couple of hours I am away from a computer after lunch and before midnight and it's official club SMS time. So between eating my tea and bathing my daughter midfielder Ricky Ravenhill became the second acquistion from Doncaster Rovers in the space of a week. Riiiiccckkkyyyy/Raves was supposed to be on his way to Chester, where he has also been on loan, until financial gubbins got in the way. He's also got a three games suspension ending - you guessed it - with tomorrow night's game. Better get used to it. He's got a colourful disciplinary record.

The Rodger is "talking to another unnamed player and is hoping for a decision before tonight's deadline." Hoping?

8:35pm update
The OS carries a typed out interview with Riiiiccckkkyyyy. All you need to know: "I went there on loan to Chester and things didn't work out. I am far happier signing for a club like Grimsby." He describes himself as "a midfielder who gets all over the pitch", gets stuck in and scores "a few goals" ("I think I got five or six last year"). No mention of his mobility though, but he sounds incredibly Poutonesque.

8:41pm update
The club is auctioning off the shirt Ravenhill is seen holding at his unveiling. 140 minutes after announcing his signing. This is some sort of record.

9:40pm update
Just having a scoot through the fourth division news, and Paul Ince has finally joined Swindon as player-coach. The deal was held up by Swindon needing to keep their wage bill under the 60 per cent limit set by the League. More money was 'pledged' to cover the deal.

Elsewhere, it seems Man Utd youngster Giuseppe Rossi is about to join Newcastle. That's the same Giuseppe Rossi who was supposedly linked with a loan spell with Town last season, according to messageboard rumour. Talking of which where is Alan Pouton? Wasn't he supposed to be here in a "matter of hours"?

10:35pm update
It's a break in the Sopranos. No more news yet. I'll give it one last go at 11 and head off to bed. I've got a late drive back from Cleethorpes tomorrow after all.

11:06pm update
No further news sadly. The signing of Ravenhill sounds promising though and Michael Reddy is still a Town player, but whether there are further changes will have to wait until first thing in the morning. If you're burning the midnight oil keep checking the club's official site. Any late action we'll round up in tomorrow lunchtime's Diary and feel free to share you views on Town using the Diary's email address. Cheers for reading and n-night!