Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 15 January 2009

15 January 2009

Idle Diary rattles off: There's this bloke I work with. Guaranteed on a daily basis he'll remind you of where he used to work, who that company worked for, and how he has brushed shoulders with a revered advertising guru. Sample: "Years ago when I used to work in Stockport, when I used to work with some quite big companies like Adidas, and I used to see Trevor Beattie about a lot."

Name droppers. I bloody hate them. Inevitably, name droppers - as John Fenty knows (Robbie Fowler!) - get their come-uppance. Mike Newell isn't such a fool. Today's paper reveals that the latest stage of the ReNewell Plan could see another loan signing joining the club, bringing this season's total of loanees to 12. Mindful of his chairman's loose tongue, Masterplan Mike is keeping his cards close to his chest, making it clear that "there's nothing certain but I've a few irons in the fire". And when Mike moves he pleasantly surprises us: bringing in some promising youths from Big London Clubs; giving Adam Proudlock a chance to shine; snapping up an eager French trialist; and lending out Peter Till to Chesterfield. Yes, you read that right. The man certainly knows how to surprise, eh. Newell's probably had enough of thinking he'd turned the contrast on his TV up too high when he was watching training, the massive orangeist. Or something.

The SNOS is, as you'd expect from an arm of the GTFC marketing department, a bit more excited about any new signing, probably due to some blatant profiteering opportunities from new text message subscriptions. Well, we reckon they're on about a new signing when they say Newell "is hoping to have another body in the building". Or has someone at the club got a boxset of the excellent Six Feet Under for Christmas and decided to branch out into funeral services? Which could be viewed as an unfortunate segue to the next item...

Some sad news to report: after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease, former Town manager Tom Casey has died, aged 78. Casey will always hold a special part in this Mariner's heart, being in charge of the team when I was brought into the world. Younger readers who can only remember as far back as Alan Buckley's first stint, Alan Buckley's second stint, or Lennie Lawrence's Liverpool Legend, can learn that Casey's reign as gaffer lasted from February 1975 until November 1976, when he was sacked after a run of three wins in 16 games. Our thoughts are with his family, and there's a colourful if all too brief recollection of the man from Dave Boylen over here.

Incidentally, Mike Newell is currently at the 16 games mark in his Town career and has overseen just two victories. Fingers crossed it can be a third league win for Mike and the season on Saturday. We'll be previewing the trip to Wycombe in our pre-match factfile, which you can read by tuning in tomorrow, and for Guest Diary as he prepares for his trip down south. Maybe we'll see you there? Up the Mariners!