Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 27 May 2008

27 May 2008

Is it just me who's suspicious about this Adebayo Akinfenwa business? First, it is deeply unTownlike and most unBuckleyesque to go public with a transfer bid before the whole deal is done. Second, fans of some of Akinfenwa's previous clubs talk of attitude problems, and again it would seem quite out of character for our Al to show any interest in a potential malcontent. Third, Akinfenwa is a striker and the forward line is the area of the Mariners' squad that least needs strengthening. Fourth, what realistic hope could Town have of persuading the player to drop a division when he has an offer to remain with Northampton and interest from another third-flight club in Leyton Orient?

A potential explanation for the Akinfenwa non-story is implicit in an observation from Guest Diary, who emailed over the weekend to point out that "we are the only league team in the top four divisions whose BBC page still leads with the result of the last game of the season". With season tickets presumably about to go on sale at last, and precisely bugger all going on around Blundell Park, the club is desperate for anything to drum up interest, and a pretend bid for an exciting-looking centre-forward from a higher division fits the bill perfectly. Or is the Diary crediting Town's marketing staff with far more ingenuity and intelligence than they truly possess? I can't decide, and it's lunchtime and I feel dreadful and I want to go back to bed.