Cod Almighty | Article
by Jase Ives
10 January 2018
In a pivotal time for the club, everyone who cares about Grimsby Town has to be asking themselves some hard questions.
Once again, Grimsby Town supporters are being tested in a period of difficulty and rumblings of discontent. Not two years since that euphoric day at Wembley, which many thought heralded the return of better days after six seasons in the non-League abyss.
It wouldn't be Grimsby Town if things went smoothly. I can't recall a time when everyone sang from the same hymn sheet. Even during the Buckley days many weren't happy. Few could dispute, though, that the last dozen years or so have been enough to test the patience of a saint.
There's little point going over the numerous events again which have already been dissected at length by many; what's done is done. But what about the concern of some supporters about the direction the football club is heading in now?
Some feel there is no long-term plan. Some feel it's the long-running new ground chase or nothing. Some are more concerned at the plight on the pitch, after a terrible few weeks dropping down to the lower echelons of the table, and fear a return to non-League, this year or next.
Others worry about the leadership of the team, the scouting, the transfer windows which never work out well, the manager, the coaching, the lack of opportunity for promising youth players. Others are concerned that we look like getting left behind teams that operate on a budget and an income far less than ourselves. And then there's the feeling that the club could do more to market itself to the fans and potential fans.
The football club needs to realise it is its support that matters most for the long-term future. Developments, new ground, new facilities aren't any more important than realising now that the club needs to work with its support, not against it
These rumblings of discontent lead to a fall in attendances. A lot of supporters have to decide where their hard-earned income is spent, so inevitably worry about the 'value for money' of tickets to Blundell Park. For many, family comes before entertainment or leisure and it is harder for all football clubs outside the top flight to entice support.
However, clubs such as Accrington manage to retain their loyal band of a 1,000 or so and bring them together, make them feel part of what's going on, that they have a stake and a say in future plans.
The Mariners Trust is trying to engage and interact, to make things better. I'm led to believe it is asking members what direction they want to go next for the long term and the greater good. Again though, this leads to disagreements: arguments for and against working with the club's board; and questions about just how much they can influence.
So many questions in so many areas. But it does feel like we are entering a pivotal time. The supporters need to be brought together, to feel as though they are valued, not just expected to pay their money. The football club needs to realise it is its support that matters most for the long-term future. Developments, new ground, new facilities aren't any more important than realising now that the club needs to work with its support, not against it.
So where do we go from here? That really needs to be answered soon, and it needs an answer from many people. From non-chairmen, from directors, from our commercial team, from the trust board and trust members, from supporters. The time to stop stupid playground squabbles and petty arguments has to be now. It may take some time to agree, but the question that needs to be asked, and answered is What can we all do to ensure that the club and its support learns from mistakes in the past to make things better in the future?
What would you do?
Jase wrote this article before the board statement on 9 January.