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Diary - Friday 18 December 2009

18 December 2009

If 'compact' central defenders with close-cropped hair and a penchant for red cards are your thing, the Diary has some good news and some bad news for you, and, being a miserable sod from Grimsby, you'll probably want the bad news first. Oliver 'Olly' Lancashire's parent club Southampton have ordered him to return so their proper physios and fitness coaches can look at his injured back and hamstring, rather than leave him in the hands of the leech-wielding quacks at remote Blundell Park. I guess that means he'll not be lining up against Morecambe tonight then. On the bright side for fans of the player, Neil Woodses is trying to get him to come back afterwards. Town's superb new official website is less than forthcoming with any further details, but with Lancs having already signed for three months, one suspects that as the January sales begin the GTFC manager will have a tent pitched outside St Mary's ready to wave a contract saying 'season-long loan' under the nose of his quarry.

"Leary won't change his style" is the headline of an interview in today's Grimsby Telegraph, prompting any Town supporters who read it to hunker down for a whole season of hope-crushing immobility in midfield. But wait! The Mariners' midfield immaestro is referring not to the largely stationary nature of his game but his "combative style", to use the Telegraph's words. "If only," sigh five thousand weary readers. "Confidence is rising up in the team again with better results and hopefully we can start to turn those draws into wins," adds Leary, fulfilling the players' weekly quota of Tell The Telegraph We've Not Been The Best Lately But We'll Get Better Now, Honest. "If only," sigh five thousand weary readers.

Before I go, there's just Cod Almighty's excellent preview of tonight's game to recommend to you, and an email to the Diary from Sibbo, who says: "Hi Diary. Best news for Christmas any Town fan could hear is Jarman the Starman back in action. I've got a spare pair of steel toe cap boots, size 10, if they're any good, Nathan. Can't be having another broken foot can we!" Indeed - the Diary is in full agreement with Sibbo's assessment of this player's potential significance in Town's annual battle for Football League survival. There are some cold days and nights ahead at Blundell Park, but the return of The Jarman to the pitch would guarantee more cheer and warmth in Cod Almighty's section of the Pontoon than a large vat of mulled wine.