The Diary

Cod Almighty | Diary

Make it stop

15 November 2017

Did you ever hear the elaborate conspiracy theory that Tony Blair was actually a Conservative? The story goes that during the early 1990s the Tories privately acknowledged that they couldn't stay in office forever so they undertook some contingency planning. Planting Blair as leader to steer Labour to the right ensured that there would be no actual socialism when their party finally returned to government. Then, when the Conservatives got back in afterwards, their neoliberal agenda could continue uninterrupted, and the opposition would be neutralised by a destructive rift in the ranks of the Labour party.

Well, I'm not insinuating for a moment that any kind of similar scenario surrounded John Fenty's rise to power at GTFC. But just to put our minds at rest, it would be good if someone could vouch for his whereabouts during all the board meetings at Glanford Park in the early 2000s.

Similarly, while your original/regular Diary is not ready to call a foundation meeting of AFC Grimsby for this weekend, it certainly wouldn't do any harm to start drafting the constitution. I suspect now that we may be seeing the beginning of the end – but the end of what is not yet clear. If it's not the conclusion of John Fenty's tenure at the club, then before very much longer it may be the end of the club itself. Perhaps the fans' conversation about succession planning needs to begin in earnest today.

Meanwhile the club's reserve players have given their first-team elders and betters a lesson in the dimly remembered art of goalscoring. Lining up against second-flight Burton Albion in the Central League Cup yesterday, Town's second string won 5-0 with goals from Jonathan Hooper (2), Harry Cardwell, Jamey Osborne and Emil Powles. I wish we hadn't done this joke on Twitter yesterday now because it would have worked really well here.

Anyone speculating that Russell 'Faith In The Entire Squad' Slade will name an unchanged line-up against Carlisle this Saturday will be swiftly and severely appraised.

Let's end by talking about something nice instead. How about beer? The excellent Axholme Brewery launches Mariners Winter Ale at the end of this month – a 3.8% traditional English bitter described as having peppery and fruitcake flavours, perfect for a chilly evening on the Humber estuary or indeed wherever you are. It'll be on sale from 28 November at Message in a Bottle – that lovely little beer-off on Cambridge Street – and indeed the club shop. So if you're thinking there's absolutely no reason to go along to Blundell Parka the moment, think again. There's definitely one.