Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 10 August 2006

10 August 2006

Some people want to give Dudley Ramsden nine million quid to go away. Isn't that about what it ended up costing Town as well?

Yes, folks - it's one of those news days that are slower than Peter Beagrie on ketamine, and as the Mariners' search for a central defender goes on into the autumn hungry Town fans must try to satiate their appetites for information with the knowledge that former player and manager Paul Groves is enjoying life on the coaching staff at Portsmouth just fine, thankyou very much. The Grimsby Telegraph has hunted PG down to a tatty five-a-side pitch on the outskirts of Nether Wallop, where he enthused: "I'm really enjoying it here. The lads are a fantastic bunch and it's a good environment to work in." Groves' confirms his remarkable feat of landing on his feet by adding: "The support is phenomenal - nearly 4,000 for a pre-season friendly at Havant and Waterlooville." Four thousand would, of course, have counted as a great crowd for a first team game during the latter days of Groves' spell as manager at Blundell Park.

Luckily for the Diary's hopes of spinning out another paragraph, Mat 'The Hat' Hare has emailed on a hot topic du jour. What is it that he wants to talk about? "I wanna talk about this new kit, Diary." Righto, Mat. Go on then. "I don't like it. The socks are quite clearly constricting the movement of the players' legs and slowing them down. And the shorts are ill-fitting too. And the shirt goes against all tradition doesn't it? I mean other clubs don't have to put up with this rubbish. And it weren't like this when Lawrie Mac was in charge. And Buckley may have been a miserable sod but at least his teams played in proper kit didn't they. It's a sign of the times when the players have to wear this kit and play football. I blame Fenty. All this money he's spending trying to relocate the club to Great Coates has obviously had an impact on the kit budget and we've had to go for the cheap option. I mean, I haven't actually seen the kit at all other than the shirt pictures the OS had for a while but I don't like it." Thanks, Mat. Is that a direct transcript of Radio Humberside's Football Forum, or did you paraphrase it?

That's it. I'm off. Guest diarist tomorrow, Town v Lennie Lawrence on Saturday. See ya!