Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 25 June 2004

25 June 2004

"It is important that we don't panic though." As Russell Slade rehearsed his mid-season interview in front of the mirror, he failed to realise that his every word was being transcribed for the Official Site by a context-insensitive cub reporter. Earlier, we are told, Russell had reminded himself to keep looking for a left-footed forward, and that he had a date to talk with a striker on Saturday. Best to leave it to the afternoon, mate, they're often a bit wrecked first thing. Apparently this all is sufficient to warrant a "Boss Hoping For Third Signing On Monday" headline.

Meantime there has been a lively and excited debate going on between Darlington fans as to the size of the travelling contingent from Grimsby for the opening match of next season. This had been fuelled, presumably, by the comments of Quakers' new chief executive Andy Battison who told the Newcastle Evening Gazette: "We are delighted to start the season by entertaining one of the biggest clubs in our division." Well, Darlo fans, if you want to get 'the largest number of away fans at the first game of the season' as some of you are predicting, then all I can promise is that we'll bring more than, more than…oh Yeovil. And they won't be coming to admire your new stadium which will be, I'm sure, just as much as a monstrosity as all the other plastic and steel prefabs which have sprung up around the nation.

Your Guest Diarist has been feeling increasingly twitchy, as day followed day with no absolute confirmation that Town were rid of Stuart Campbell. Mafeking has been relieved, however, with news on the Bristol Rovers Official Site that Campbell has joined them on a two year contract. Predictably contradicting his earlier assertions about being dead keen to stay at Grimsby, Cambell said: "My contract was up at Grimsby and they offered me a new one, but I just felt it was time to move on." We felt that way too, Stuart. My spies report that his dressing room locker has been emptied. That means Stu has taken his invisibility cloak with him, with the result that it could be some considerable time before the gasheads actually notice their new signing on the field of play.

"When will you learn?" fumes Mark Wilson in an email to the Diary. Apparently Mr Diary's jibes in the direction of Messrs Clare and Widdrington mean: "not only have you confirmed all our fears about Daryl Clare's inevitable hand in Chester hammering Town, you have openly derided Tommy Widdrington which will guarantee a bizarre flurry of goal-scoring and Rooneyesque skill when we play Macclesfield." I must leap to Diary's defence here, Mark, on the basis that it is a risk well worth taking in my judgement. We should look for any excuse to rubbish Widdrington, who has peddled his own misguided sense of self-worth too often for my liking. Bring him on, I say, bring him on. Anyway, I'm off strawberry picking before it rains again. See yer.