Cod Almighty | Diary
Diary - Wednesday 19 May 2010
19 May 2010
One of the factors that has contributed to Town's relegation, of course, is the fitness and lifestyles of the playing staff. Neil Woodses has mentioned it several times since becoming manager. Supporters, likewise, have often been horrified to see the players whose wages they pay going out on the piss and shovelling junk food down their traps. Positive noises have been heard from Blundell Park since the end of the season, however. The Fenty/Parker coalition has promised to fund new training resources as well as the appointment of a full-time physical conditioning scientist in Ben Mortlock. Many fans have been reassured by these moves and are looking forward next season to a completely fresh start and a clean break with the Newell era of laziness and booze. What a fine thing it is, then, to see Mortlock - a 23-year-old lad from Grimsby - using the profile picture on his Myspace page to promote precisely the kind of lifestyle that will make the Mariners the fittest and most professional side in the Conference next season.
When Town appointed a new chief scout after last season's transfer window closed, there were those who had their doubts. Indeed, your original Diary couldn't help but wonder whether the usefulness of such a move wasn't akin to that of giving a packet of condoms to a Catholic priest. Clearly we were missing something, as John Deehan has now left the building with his mission successfully accomplished and no explanation at all for the decision from the Mariners' superb new official website. The SNOS adds, however, that assistant manager Chris Casper has been offered a new contract as he has "worked well together" with Neil Woodses, who is "keen to retain his services". Perhaps we are simply to infer from the absence of any such comments on Deehan's position that he became embroiled in fist fights with the manager several times a day and Woodses was so keen to get shot that he offered to drive Deehan to the dole office personally.
Whoever has the job of organising Town's schedule of pre-season matches this year is certainly no slouch, anyway. In stark contrast to the lethargic pace at which the friendlies usually dribble out into public consciousness - not to mention the way season tickets seem to go on sale later than at every other club in England, once everyone is skint from booking their summer holidays - the club has already announced a full schedule of warm-ups for the exciting 2010-11 season to come. To the already-revealed meetings with Brigg Town and Big Wednesday have been added kickabouts with Frickley Athletic, Boston United, Lincoln City and some as yet unidentified teams from The Scotland. Last year, of course, the Mariners had to pull out of one such friendly at a day's notice after stupidly organising seven games in a week. This year's schedule. happily, seems to allay any fears of a repeat. Apart from the bit where the game against Wednesday kicks off 17 hours after the end of the Boston match.
One supporter whose glass looks at least half full is Jase Ives, who has emailed the Diary to say: "Now Colgan's finally getting the boot (hopefully!) I'm feeling a tad better with regards to next season in the Conference." Is Colgan getting the boot? First I heard. Maybe you should take over writing the Diary, Jase! "So long as we acquire a more authoritative keeper along with a no-nonsense Whitts-type centre-back (how we have missed him). Majorly disappointed that Fenty is still 'in the building' and that season tickets/match day prices are likely to remain the same - can't 'devalue the product' now, can we... tit. Can't say I'm massively in favour of Woodsy being at the helm either, but understand the need for a bit of longevity (I reckon Fenty will get non-sacking syndrome come October and react accordingly), and hopefully he can acquire a good young player or two, who will be competitive and not some over-the-hill has-been wanting a last payday - which is what our club was reduced to whilst hanging on to its league status. However, comments from Fenty towers aren't encouraging as he seems to have plan A - throw money at it, or plan B - throw money at it. Some people never learn...
"Also, as a side note," continues Jase, "just letting you guys know that Playsport won the North Lincs New Enterprise Business of the Year - we're delighted, and hope that a bit of publicity will encourage groups/communities/disabled people etc to get in touch and see if we can help, encourage and engage them, and the facility is used for the community as a whole. PS: Thanks for the good work in difficult times last season, and the chinwags in the pub - see you guys in August. UTM." No, no - thank you for reading. Playsport, for them wot dunno, is a new Grimsby-based sports centre which looks proper decent, so congratulations on the award and we'll see you in the Rutland in August, Jase. A happy summer to you and all our readers - or as happy as possible in the circumstances.