Cod Almighty | Diary

Enter your own mushroom analogy here

10 September 2013

A football club, if it is still a football club and not a multinational brand, has a relationship with its supporters that is not quite unique but certainly special. We might be urged to use our local cinema or our local greengrocer against the encroachments of a multiplex or a supermarket, but the scale of the appeal is quite different. There is a normative element to supporting your local club, a recognition that the survival and success of the club enrich the community. We owe the club in a way that goes quite beyond the commercial transaction of paying at the gate and hoping to be entertained.

But then, and precisely because we make that emotional response to the Mariners, the club also owes us. Regardless of what shares we hold in the club, or in the supporters' trust, it is our business.

Which is a long-winded way to say that, four days after the stark announcement that Paul Hurst was taking sole charge of team affairs, the further statement we were promised has not yet surfaced. The cause of the state of affairs may of course be deeply personal, legal or contractual (and if you have come here hoping Middle-Aged Diary can enlighten you, you will be disappointed). Even a statement saying why there cannot be a statement would be better than the stony silence emanating from Blundell Park.

We do know that Adam Smith is leaving his role as Grimsby Town youth team coach later this month. And we do know that a reserve team drew 2-2 with Scunthorpe yesterday, Andy Cook and Ross Hannah scoring our goals. Even then, we don't know why or where Smith is going, or the identity of the trialist who featured in the behind-closed-doors friendly. There may be good reasons why we cannot be told.

Good supporters should be seen, and heard, but not expect to be spoken to.