Cod Almighty | Diary

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today

1 March 2022

White rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit! Pinch, punch, first of the month, no return of any kind! Now I've sorted our luck for the next few weeks, Happy 1st March to you Mariners. We should have had a game tonight but Boreham Wood have a small matter of the FA Cup to deal with this week. Personally, it's disappointing not to be watching the Mariners. Boreham Wood are having a very good season but still have average attendances of less than a thousand at home. It will be interesting to see how many lifelong fans they take to Everton on Thursday compared to how many they eventually bring to Blundell Park.

Anyway, enough of things that are not happening. I signed in to the shareholders' meeting last night. I wasn't a shareholder until last year when it looked like the takeover was definitely happening. This is now an organisation I am happy to be a very tiny part of. This is not a report of the meeting, I'm sure the club will release what they want to, but just my thoughts on some of the discussions.

Let's shout it loud: we now have ownership we can be proud of. Thoroughly professional, engaging, moving the club in the right direction. Discussions about infrastructure showed they are aware of shortcomings in the ground and will look to improve areas as the budget allows. I've noticed areas that are now tidier and they confirmed they want to maintain Blundell Park for safety and comfort. A few bins/bin bags would be great if they are allowed!

A new stadium was mentioned but they have already made it clear that there would have to be a suitable, viable option on the table before they would comment. I would rather Blundell Park was systematically upgraded, stands replaced etc. than be on a soulless retail park only accessible by car, sitting in the Primark stand, knowing the club is barely surviving because of its debt to some investment company.

Like the spectre at the feast, the former Chairman Day piped up to ask about the £1.125m invested in the club by 1878 Ltd. I won't remark here what my thoughts were when he started as they probably aren't printable. He's a shareholder so has every right to be there but this is a man who was host and in the room when a convicted fraudster wanted to buy a million pounds worth of shares in the club. They knew he was a fraudster because "the board had previously made it clear to Mr May that because of his criminal conviction he could not become a director". His offer was rejected by the board but only after the fans had created such a stink.

Yes, the £1.125m is a loan and not yet converted to equity. It was to fund cashflow and commitments to the previous major shareholder. I did wonder if Day was sitting on the previous major shareholder's knee like Orvil. I know, I know, I need to let this go but I haven't quite fully processed how close our club came to being used and abused to a level we have never seen before and possibly to the point of extinction. I will one day, I promise.

There was discussion about the flag on the boat. One person put in the comments words to the effect of "We've done this now. I didn't like it but it has been dealt with and we should move on." That I can agree with.

Discussions on satisfying the day to day against future development were interesting as were facing the volatile, short-termism of some fans. Twenty years of neglect doesn't get overturned in a year. The behind the scenes work to change culture is long overdue but it doesn't happen instantly. What made me happy was the desire to "tie up the right players for the long-term". Think I've got that right. Music to my ears.

My takeaway to all Town fans is: I know it's hard. Jason, Andrew and Debbie acknowledged that the short- and long-term "to do lists" are getting longer. Let's express our opinions in less challenging ways. These people are professional, they are listening. They want to do the best for the club, the fans and the area. Long may it continue.

And finally, another player in the Vanarama team of the week. Congratulations Shaun Pearson. We've always known you're immense. UTM!