Cod Almighty | Diary

Daylight

12 May 2020

So we now have some clarity of sorts. With the government giving the top flight the green light to recommence behind closed doors in 'phase 2' on 1 June, and the wannabe Premiership Two also seeking to play the season out, it seems certain that the Football League in divisions three and four will be scrapped, bar the possibility of play-offs at Wembley. The leagues will be set on a points-per-game basis which will see Town sit in 14th place. Weighting home and away games has been dismissed as some games are harder than others. Who knew?

The only argument with this plan is likely to come from Peterborough who will drop out of the play-off places. Wycombe, currently eighth after a loss of form will climb above them to third. Given the behaviour of Peterborough over the last 20 years, there are few clubs Casual Diary would rather see stiffed more. The self proclaimed Posh sit alongside Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe and Lincoln: clubs we left behind after 1978 but who now believe themselves to be bigger than Town.

Another bonus is that Macclesfield will be saved at the expense of Stevenage. That should bring a smile to any Town fan worth their salt.

As Friday's diary mentioned, Tom Shutes and his backers finally went public last Thursday with an exclusive to the Telegraph. As if to hammer home their ability to deliver it was followed up by their plans to turn the Ice House into a new National Theatre venue on Saturday.

Grimsby Town's new chairman, Philip Day, was quick to respond. In fairness, the response had an authority sadly lacking in previous club statements. The questions Day says the club has been asking of its prospective buyers are eminently reasonable. Who would own the stadium? What would be the lease terms and the rent? The experience of Coventry City should be a red flag to any club's fans.

Of course, you do have to take on trust these are the only questions the current board have been asking. It is a bit odd they have only surfaced now and not in previous statements as they cast the board in a good light. And it is a bit disingenuous of Day to say he doesn't want negotiations by media given the actions of John Fenty since November. Nevertheless, Day's statement suggests Shutes and his backers do have questions to answer.

I would not nail our colours to any mast at present. I will always argue that anything that has happened to Town since 2007 is solely the responsibility of John Fenty. But the reaction of fans to the latest development is evidence of the impact that Ian Holloway has had. Had Shutes gone public in November, he might have expected support and a cacophony of "Fenty out" calls on social media. Now, judging from my own social media feeds, the response is more mixed, and marginally favourable to the current board. It certainly wasn't only the usual "without John" posters who were questioning the timing and the motives of the suitors.

That Holloway wants to work with the current board and has bought shares in the club has swayed the reaction. The club's future, off as well as on the field, is being dictated by a manager only 12 games into his association with the Town. It is testimony to Holloway's McMenemyesque status. Let's hope it's not misplaced.

UTM