Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 7 May 2008

7 May 2008

Oh no - who'd've thought it? After tantalising credulous Town fans with yesterday's unsubstantiated story about prolific striker Michael Boulding being "linked with" a return to Blundell Park (read the comment from "mac"), the Grimsby Telegraph has had to climb sheepishly back down, admitting that the player is "keeping his options open" and may yet sign a new deal at Mansfield. Today's coverage thoroughly downplays the prospect of a third spell for Quick Mick in Mariners colours by adding Lincoln to Bradford and GTFC in its list of "potential suitors", quoting the player's stated first intention to "find out what is going on" at Field Mill despite the Stags' relegation to the Conference, and insisting merely that the possibility of Boulding coming back to BP "cannot be ruled out". The latter is quite true, of course, just as the possibility cannot be ruled out of the Diary being offered lucrative contracts this afternoon to pen a regular opinion column for the New York Review of Books and an epic sequence of fourteen Grimsby-based historical novels for HarperCollins. It's not very likely, but it cannot be ruled out.

Gary Montgomery has been offered terms to stay with the Mariners for a second year, but will probably leave if he can get first-team football elsewhere. The club's excellent second-choice goalkeeper - who in the 2007-08 season racked up four Cod Almighty man of the match awards from just six starts - has said he will give Lord Alan Buckley his decision by next month, reports the Telewag, which quotes the manager: "I'd like to keep him here again but I understand his position. He is good enough to play first-team football and do well in this division." Shush, Al - don't tell them!

One footballer who is less concerned than Micky and Monty with open options and first-team action is Grant Normington. Although yet to make his first-team debut, the teenage right-back was an unused substitute at home to Rotherham in April, and looks likely to remain with the club until at least November with a six-month professional contract. It's not quite clear whether he's accepted it or not, as Town's superb new official website says in its headline that young Grant "Pens Pro Deal" but in the body text that the player has only "been offered" new terms, but the Diary considers this discrepancy unworthy of further attention. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was being pedantic or anything like that.