WHERE IS THE VISION? FORMER NEWSPAPER EDITOR CALLS FOR MARINERS BOARD SHAKE-UP

                                           

Action at Blundell Park - cloud of uncertainty hovers over the club

CONTROVERSY has erupted anew over the future control of Grimsby Town FC.

For almost two years, there have been on-off negotiations between various board members, notably chief shareholder John Fenty, and a consortium led by entrepreneur Tom Shutes.

But these broke down in spring, resulting in the following statement being issued, on behalf of the board, by club chairman Philip Day: "What we are not prepared to do is deal with discussions via the media.

"We are disappointed that, not for the first time, Mr Shutes has chosen to use the media to put pressure on the board. For that reason, we will not be making any further public statement. 

"Mr Shutes knows what the board wants. If he comes up with that, we will give it proper consideration. Not to do so would be a dereliction of our duty."

But today long-term Mariners' pundit and PR consultant Nigel Lowther has upset the applecart.

A long-term advocate for a new community stadium to be built on the vacant land off Freeman Street in Grimsby's East Marsh, he says: "Too much time has been wasted in turning this dream into a reality."

But, on top of that snipe, it is his further comments in an article in today's Grimsby Telegraph that are likely to irritate - if not anger - the club's board.

Mr Lowther continues: "Now more than ever we need individuals to step up an invest in our club.

"We need individuals with  a commitment to working with manager Ian Holloway and building a squad capable of competing at the top."

He goes on to identify the trio whom he thinks most capable of fulfilling tis vision - Tom Shutes and two of his consortium, "Grimsby-born genuine fans Jason Stockwood and Andrew Pettit".

Mr Lowther, former co-publisher and editor of the much-missed Cleethorpes Chronicle newspaper, continues: "These are the kind of  people that supporters (and the board) have been crying out to invest in the club for years.

"Where these successful individuals would lead, other would follow.

"Given the right leadership, the club can play a significant part in Great Grimsby's renaissance."

He concludes: "A different type of teamwork will guarantee a bright future."

It is not clear if Mr Lowther is writing as a lobbyist on behalf of the Shutes consortium or as a Mariners fan - or both - but his comments will give a fresh stir to the cauldron.

Whether the board will respond through the club's website remains to be seen.

                                       

Fans at Blundell Park - no action on the pitch but plenty behind the scenes

                                

The Grimsby News says: At such a fragile time in Grimsby Town FC's history, the timing of this  article is not helpful. In these coronavirus-stricken times, the board has done well to keep a steady hand on the tiller. The last thing it needs is for waters to be made choppier by what looks like gratuitous mischief-making. If the consortium has a viable long-term plan for the club, why not spell it out in detail? What fans and club staff want is transparency and forthrightness, not tittle-tattling around the margins.