ANYONE FOR DARTS? WERE GRIMSBY TOWN PLAYERS PRACTISING THE WRONG GAME?

                                                  

Probe shone a light on protocol breaches

THE coffers of Grimsby Town FC could be hit to the tune of at least £13,000 following apparent early-season breaches of coronavirus protocols.

Although a  penalty fine of £4,800 will be suspended until June, the club faces having to pay  the estimated £13,000 costs incurred by the English Football League in investigating events that resulted in three-match postponement earlier this season.

In additional, Town may  also have to foot any "reasonable costs" incurred by the  three other clubs -  Cheltenham Town, Bradford City and Hull City  - as a result of the postponements. 

However, it is by no means clear what, if any, costs were incurred by these clubs. 

The full report of EFL investigators has not yet been published, but it is understood that appropriate procedures were not followed at the Mariners' training ground off Cheapside in Waltham after a player, Jack Curran, tested  positive for Covid.

For instance, social distancing went out of the window when Ian Holloway, then the manager, instigated an impromptu darts match as a training tool "aimed" (ha!)  at  building team spirit.

Given the Mariners' poor start to the season, fans will probably be astonished that the squad were not putting more fitness and skills work with the ball on the pitch rather than bending their elbows in front of a dartboard.

It is not  known who provided the dartboard and arrows, nor who won the match - and if there was any prize for victory.

Nor is it known if new manager Paul Hurst is continuing, as part of training, with the darts practice.

If there is a plus to the outcome of the embarrassing probe, it is that the EFL has not imposed a points deduction.