Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 13 August 2007

13 August 2007

Well, that was a decent start, don't you think? OK, so a little more composure in front of goal could have won the Mariners all three points on Saturday, and the Grimsby Telegraph says "protege" when it means "prodigy", but significant progress has clearly been made on last season's defensive play if visitors to Blundell Park can bludgeon and batter and hoof and corner all afternoon and only score with an extraordinarily spawny deflected shot (rather than the skilfully curved beauty that some Notts County fans laughably claim to have seen). But the first question on the lips of North East Lincolnshire as the new week begins is surely: how long can Town hold on to Ryan Bennett?

And the second question on the lips of North East Lincolnshire as the new week begins seems to be: "Compass FM? Who the hell are they?" This is, indeed, how an email to the Diary from Brian Robinson begins. To answer his own query Brian has Googled the name of Town's prestigious new media partner and found an interesting back-story on the website of broadcasting regulator Ofcom regarding the granting of Compass's licence in 2000. "The [Radio] Authority had great difficulty reaching a decision on this award," reads a press release, "primarily because, whilst meeting the requirements of the Broadcasting Act, there were significant weaknesses in each application. However, after close scrutiny, members considered that Compass FM on balance best fulfilled the statutory criteria." In other words, the least worst option, or the best of a bad bunch. "Got off to a good start then," observes Brian wryly. Thanks for the information, sir, and surely only the cruellest of observers would speculate that GTFC took a look at their own official communications and decided Compass was the broadcaster that most closely matched their own standards.

David Wilkinson (aka "Very Disgruntled of Swaby") is another Diary reader who has emailed about the new radio deal. "It's all very well John Fenty taking home his less than valuable fourth division ball and refusing to play with the BBC but the whole club is in danger of disappearing off the spectrum of visibility," he opines. "Has the club stopped to think of where its support base is located? Whether they like it or not many regular supporters and season ticket holders do not live in the town which is - as I understand it - the only place which can pick up Compass FM. I know many people living in Alford and Louth who are regular supporters - as is the case with a half-circle drawn round Brigg, Caistor to Mablethorpe and inwards to Grimsby. This is Town's extended catchment area and a significant number of people here are both potential and regular supporters. For them, Town will disappear from the radio.

"The official website is moving increasingly towards being a paysite," continues David. "Almost nothing of interest is put on the site unless it is aimed at selling you something or swindling some money out of you through some sort of betting scam or another or getting you to sign up to Mariners World (and who in their right mind would do that?). Commercial activity is wasted on a dwindling support base. PR, primarily, is about brand recognition, building a loyalty base and exposure. When lousy PR has the opposite result the knock-on effect is reduced commercial activity. Let's hope the team do the talking this season because if it is left to the PR department we might end up with nobody watching or listening." Some pertinent and well-made points there, DW - many thanks. If any of you caught Saturday's commentary, or would like to respond to David's or Brian's observations, please email diary@codalmighty.com.

Just one more email, then we're done for the day - and Nigel Hardy has found a gem of another cock-up by the Mariners' PR and communications staff. "Are we Port Vale in disguise?" asks Nigel. 'Page 3 of The Mariner - Official Matchday Magazine of Grimsby Town FC' (so, not a programme then?) carries the following useful info: 'EMERGENCY WARNING: In the event of an emergency at Vale Park you will hear a Police message over the public address system providing information and directions to spectators'. Maybe this is part of the new misdirection following on from the Gainsborough driving directions?" Or maybe we're all being unnecessarily harsh on Town's communications staff, and the PA at Vale Park is like the one at Molineux, and so loud that it can be heard all the way from Cleethorpes.