Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 2 October 2008

2 October 2008

Do you know what? Nuff respect to John this morning. He's come out and laid it on the line with the most measured and concise statement of his chairmanship. His response to recent debate and analysis of his reign is open, honest and seemingly tinged with emotional exhaustion, an M6 away from his usual reactionary outbursts.

Sure, the timing isn't great. Any prospective manager without any grounding in the current situation would wonder what the fuck he's letting himself in for. But with no need to mask the truth, Fenty's statement is a shot of realism. What's Chairman John said? He and the club have made mistakes, some of which didn't need hindsight to be seen as errors, but let's not lurk on the past; time to put it right, although it's going to cost a bit. The man's giving a lot - time, money - and he's the only one willing to do that. He's on his own and seems to be in a dark place. To your Idle Diarist it sounds like he's listened, thinks he's learned, and wants the fans to believe in that. If at the end of that statement you don't want to put your arm round the bloke, thank him for being a man and give him some support, then don't bother turning up to the next home game.

Fenty's ire seems mainly to be aimed at the council, for what he perceives as their inconclusive position towards the new ground, despite their initial 'yes'. Brinkmanship from the club's chairman-cum-councillor, definitely, but his question to the area's councillors is simple: stop pissing around as the clock ticks away and spit out a unified position. What does Positive John want them to say? Do they object to idea of a new stadium? Do they object to parts of the plan? Do they want one? Where will they let one be built? Do they actually have an opinion? I've tried to find out this morning what the chairman thinks the council aren't doing at the moment, and when I do I'm off to find out the answer.

By the way, the new manager isn't going to be Dave Bassett or Tony Cottee, they're interviewing until the middle of next week, and today they've got "an interesting applicant who has played at the highest level in Germany and the UK and has international coaching experience". Someone will have seen Paul Lambert or Berti Vogts at a petrol station in the vicinity of Blundell Park today, mark my words.