Dear Fishies

I am sorry if my presence at the game yesterday offends some.

I have cared passionately for this club for many years and have looked after it and its finances with all the care and consideration within my capacity and have always been a fan and will always be a fan.

Today was the first game I could make with the season ticket purchased before the season start due to being away on business, and it was great to see a performance that looks like there’s another gear there if needed.

Congratulations to Paul Hurst on the fantastic start to the season and long may that continue with a swift return to the Football League. Hiring a manger is always a lottery, but with Paul the odds favoured it being a very good appointment, so it is pleasing to see things are going well on the field and long may that continue.

I am aware of much inuendo and frankly miss information / inuendo and downright rubbish published about me, and my time involved in the club that is well off the mark. I have opted for the dignified silence route and to let the new owners get on with the sterling job in hand.  

Like you guys. I am massively disappointed to be out of the football league. Crap happens on the field, but I refute that the club was run down, or has been handed over in a bad shape. Or that there has been any malpractice in the financial accounting whatsoever.

The deal struck with 1878 was negotiated to help the new owners in their newfound responsibility. I continue to finance the football club for up to 3 years with just £1.5million of my loans remaining in the club.

These negotiations considered the wellbeing of the club, with myself agreeing to continue to fund the club for up to three years upon resignation from the board of directors and that I leave in place for the time being my financial guarantees which underpinned season ticket sales, which I have graciously done.  

There is no other past director that has left the club without being fully repaid their loans. During my time approaching £1 million has been repaid to past directors and I don’t believe that I should be treated any differently. At the peak of my financial support for the club my commitment was in excess of £4.5million. The loans have been described as benign and certainly have been with not one penny interest ever being charged.

It should be known that the club is without any other debt, unlike most clubs which have run up overdraft facilities, HMRC debt and had taken Football League loans just to get through covid. In contrast when the deal was done, there was no such debt ‘NIL’. Additionally, there was a cash balance of around £800 thousand pounds in the club’s bank account, and it owns Blundell Park and has a considerable number of assets.

During my time, I engendered wider ownership of the club with an open-door policy where my contact details were there for all and have never knowingly not responded with good grace and humility that such office should demand.

The Club was a Public Limited Company ‘PLC’ and as such the accounts published disclose much more information than a standard limited company does. This brought considerable scrutiny with the accounts being published, prior to AGM’s EGM’s and at fans forums, that were always well attended and video recorded for wider interest. I embraced this and have always been very open to those who attended and as witnessed by others who viewed the recorded footage.

The club was left in a very sound financial position with 1878 not having to provide one single penny of investment into the club to date. Funds left on account enabled the club to continue its investment of the past regime in ground and facility improvements at Blundell Park, Cheapside and the Wintringham Academy, with major items such as new flood lighting, Led lighting in various stands, new heating systems and showers in the main stand, new disabled facilities and toilets, a new ladies toilet block, four changing rooms at Oasis Wintringham school, new heart and GPS monitors, Gym equipment, new ticketing system, pitch renovations at BP & WOS and the list goes on and on.

I could go into specifics about Academy funding and the boards consideration of proposed funding from Alex May that have raised much question along with other sensitive subjects but sign off here for now!! wishing you all well and the very best of health.

UTMM
Kind Regards John  

Red cross record about to be shattered.

This fcuker's going to run for more than two pages and no mistake.

Attention seeker...  You pathetic creature!
Now watch us lose the next game after he has cast his evil spell over the club yet again...

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

I am sorry if my presence at the game yesterday offends some.

UTMM
Kind Regards John  

Thank you for your hard work John.

UTM

No doubt your post will get the reaction that you are looking for but please do now urine off John and go find yourself another hobby.

More self indulgent shíte from the worst custodian the club has ever had. An absolute worm.

Nobody wants to hear from you while you’re bleeding the club, and even then you can fùck off into the distance hopefully never to return.

Hand back the £200k to the Trust, stop leaching transfer fees and just fúck off.

While I don’t believe in personal abuse and I dont believe John ever had any bad intentions your time in the seat at our club has been the worst period in the clubs history , facts are facts .
I know the ITV deal shafted us as a club and we had many other obstacles but there’s no denying the last 18 years have been our worst.

Yes you’re entitled to get your money back after having it in the club for so long but I would say that returning the shares that the trust gave to you would be a magnificent gesture

No do go into specific detail of proposed funding from convicted fraudster Alex may and academy funding

Here he is…just intercourse off john, and when you’ve done that, intercourse off some more…

Nobody can defend you…

Yet more lies and nonsense too…the fact you’ve even mentioned your fraudster mate again just indicates how much of a cretin you are…

Quoted Text

The club was left in a very sound financial position with 1878 not having to provide one single penny of investment into the club to date. Funds left on account enabled the club to continue its investment of the past regime in ground and facility improvements at Blundell Park, Cheapside and the Wintringham Academy, with major items such as new flood lighting, Led lighting in various stands, new heating systems and showers in the main stand, new disabled facilities and toilets, a new ladies toilet block, four changing rooms at Oasis Wintringham school, new heart and GPS monitors, Gym equipment, new ticketing system, pitch renovations at BP & WOS and the list goes on and on.

So are you implying that if the deal didn’t go ahead yourself and the board would have implemented the changes.

You say you want to take the dignified silent route but her you are trying to get the last word in

I find some of the replies a bit pathetic. There are constant snipes at JF on here and his name was being sung at BP yesterday & people on here pretend they don’t know he’s thin skinned and pretend to not understand why he’s come on here to defend himself. It’s time to move on. Leave him alone to support GTFC in peace.

It’s pathetic. It’s like the bloke with a lovely new girlfriend who spends most of his time constantly slagging off his ex rather than appreciating his new partner.

If I bump into JF at BP I’ll happily ignore him and not speak to him like I do to the huge majority of other Town fans. And anyone who verbally or physically abuses anyone at BP should be banned for life. BP should be a safe and happy place for all law abiding Town fans to enjoy their free time.

Well John now you have chosen to break cover,please have the courtesy to inform us plebeians if you knew of Alex May's convictions or that you failed to undertake due diligence No I thought not, you inane ramblings only go so far as serving your own interests.

Your arrogance amazes me John. You probably think that the 6000 + crowd, the smiles on the faces of both crowd and players etc is something that would  have happened anyway.
IT WOULDN’T.   Don’t think for even one second that 1878 are carrying on what you started. THEY HAVE DONE IT THEMSELVES. There is a breath of fresh air around  BP nowadays. That’s because the rotten egg has gone. And the rotten egg John is. YOU.
Getting your money back is one thing. Getting more than your money back stinks.
For legal reasons I won’t comment on the alleged financial mismanagement, but they certainly wouldn’t surprise me if true.
If you enjoy any success this club has, it should be as a Town fan. But NOT for personal reasons thinking you have helped. YOU HAVEN’T.  You held this club back for years. Your way forward was to have a disgusting criminal onboard !!!!!  Was your mate Mr May (if that’s still his name) with you yesterday ????  
Did you enjoy the last line of the new song.
AND WE DONT HAVE FENTY ANYMORE.  That’s to celebrate you going. (Just in case your twisted mind thinks it’s some sort of praise)
If you really are the fan you claim to be. Just be very very grateful that 1878 are digging us out of the hole that YOU got us into.
UTM

None of the other directors have left us in non league. Shouldn’t be getting a penny back.

I thought we’d gotten rid of the middle of the night statements.

Do you know what, I started writing this long critical post about all the things you did wrong and how you nearly killed our club.

Then i thought why? I realised, you're gone… we’ve got rid of you and you ain’t worth the energy. After 16 years, we’ve got our club back and when the history books of GTFC are written, your reign will be remembered for the failure it was.

One thing I will say though. The arrogance and ridiculousness of some of the things you say above just demonstrates beautifully why everyone is glad you’re gone.

Anyway, see ya John, even you can’t ruin my mood at the minute 👍

P.S - can the trust have that 200k back please, thanks!

Dear Mr Facts.

You have done a lot of things for Town over the years. Some good, many less so.

The biggest positive thing you did, leaving. And even then you did it kicking and screaming and demanding those "benign loans" be fully repaid in such a way that nearly scuppered the very change in ownership that has resulted in the most positive atmosphere experienced since before you were involved with the club.  

Please continue to do a good thing by leaving the club well alone and enjoying the millions you are getting back. I don't even mind your final act of bleeding the club by getting all transfer money generated to repay your "benign" loans if you just leave us alone.  

Bye.

Leave it be lads. A narcissistic worm looking to get himself off by trying to be relevant. We all know that half of what he’s posted is absolute guff. We all know that the articles from Codalmighty which show what a bad’un he is are completely true or they’d have been summoned to court by now or at least made to take them down.

Let him think what he wants. Let him write what he wants. He may not have enough self awareness to realise it but the history books will remember him as the worst custodian in the club’s long history who nearly destroyed the club with his inept management and ended up being reviled by the vast majority of the fanbase and his hometown.

And the dark cloud returns

The cancer of the club trying to have one more moment.
John. The club is a million miles away from where you left it in a massively short space of time.

We have new owners who are excellent, who act with integrity and honesty. Owners that not actually say they want the best for the club but actually show they want the best for the club.
The summer transfer budget, the upgrades at Cheapside, the fanzone areas, the food and the ticket system.

You say money was available to do this previously? Weird as to why you didn’t implement any the above.

Finish off your bottle of red.
Take your ‘benign loans’
And ride off into the sunset for a lovely game of snooker at your house.

You might be a fan of the club. But you’re not a fan in the minds of any of us. You almost ruined us.

1878 are the future and intercourse me. It’s exciting.

Me thinks there's more than a modicum of jealousy here Mr Fenty....
Not good for your ego seeing 2 successful, Grimsby born business men take our club to a level you could only dream of.
Now go away, stay away and if you want to support the club you just about singlehandedly ruined please do so quietly.
Genuinely, I question your sanity, coming on here knowing your going to get slated beyond words, give your head a wobble John, understand the vast majority do not have an ounce of respect for you and you've done even more damage mentioning the fraudster in your dirge.
Deluded, that's the word!.

Cant believe what im reading. But its getting the reaction he wants.

I used to believe you wanted what was best for the club John, but all that happened last season took that away. And it seems you still feel you have done nothing wrong. You appointed and got into bed with Holloway and Alex May, you continue to bleed the club dry, i dont believe in any way you are a fan, and your presence yesterday and late night ramblings on here are once again designed to make this the John Fenty show and detract away from the strides being made on and off the pitch with you nowhere near them.

For me if you come onto here John you need to expect a back lash and angry comments to you. I was fully supportive of you until I learnt more about certain things (the trust situation) but what I will say is to everyone is that we need to move on. If JF wants to PAY and attend grimsby games let him. If you dislike him then don't talk to him or look at him.
I don't like or dislike JF but I hope if he is paying to watch Grimsby Town, our club, he should be able to without being abused in person.

How embarrassing. Thank god we have some professional people in charge now.

Wow. LED lighting. Thanks John 😉

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

I am sorry if my presence at the game yesterday offends some.

I have cared passionately for this club for many years and have looked after it and its finances with all the care and consideration within my capacity and have always been a fan and will always be a fan.

Today was the first game I could make with the season ticket purchased before the season start due to being away on business, and it was great to see a performance that looks like there’s another gear there if needed.

Congratulations to Paul Hurst on the fantastic start to the season and long may that continue with a swift return to the Football League. Hiring a manger is always a lottery, but with Paul the odds favoured it being a very good appointment, so it is pleasing to see things are going well on the field and long may that continue.

I am aware of much inuendo and frankly miss information / inuendo and downright rubbish published about me, and my time involved in the club that is well off the mark. I have opted for the dignified silence route and to let the new owners get on with the sterling job in hand.  

Like you guys. I am massively disappointed to be out of the football league. Crap happens on the field, but I refute that the club was run down, or has been handed over in a bad shape. Or that there has been any malpractice in the financial accounting whatsoever.

The deal struck with 1878 was negotiated to help the new owners in their newfound responsibility. I continue to finance the football club for up to 3 years with just £1.5million of my loans remaining in the club.

These negotiations considered the wellbeing of the club, with myself agreeing to continue to fund the club for up to three years upon resignation from the board of directors and that I leave in place for the time being my financial guarantees which underpinned season ticket sales, which I have graciously done.  

There is no other past director that has left the club without being fully repaid their loans. During my time approaching £1 million has been repaid to past directors and I don’t believe that I should be treated any differently. At the peak of my financial support for the club my commitment was in excess of £4.5million. The loans have been described as benign and certainly have been with not one penny interest ever being charged.

It should be known that the club is without any other debt, unlike most clubs which have run up overdraft facilities, HMRC debt and had taken Football League loans just to get through covid. In contrast when the deal was done, there was no such debt ‘NIL’. Additionally, there was a cash balance of around £800 thousand pounds in the club’s bank account, and it owns Blundell Park and has a considerable number of assets.

During my time, I engendered wider ownership of the club with an open-door policy where my contact details were there for all and have never knowingly not responded with good grace and humility that such office should demand.

The Club was a Public Limited Company ‘PLC’ and as such the accounts published disclose much more information than a standard limited company does. This brought considerable scrutiny with the accounts being published, prior to AGM’s EGM’s and at fans forums, that were always well attended and video recorded for wider interest. I embraced this and have always been very open to those who attended and as witnessed by others who viewed the recorded footage.

The club was left in a very sound financial position with 1878 not having to provide one single penny of investment into the club to date. Funds left on account enabled the club to continue its investment of the past regime in ground and facility improvements at Blundell Park, Cheapside and the Wintringham Academy, with major items such as new flood lighting, Led lighting in various stands, new heating systems and showers in the main stand, new disabled facilities and toilets, a new ladies toilet block, four changing rooms at Oasis Wintringham school, new heart and GPS monitors, Gym equipment, new ticketing system, pitch renovations at BP & WOS and the list goes on and on.

I could go into specifics about Academy funding and the boards consideration of proposed funding from Alex May that have raised much question along with other sensitive subjects but sign off here for now!! wishing you all well and the very best of health.

UTMM
Kind Regards John  

The biggest let down of all is the acquisition of those £200k Trust shares - This is believed to be totally disgusting.

Maybe gifting this back would go along way.

Also, using UTMM reminds most people of one of the biggest declines in the Clubs History and a man that professed to love the Club but didn’t actually give a sh 1te.

Try returning what wasn’t yours to the rightful owners - that would be doing the right thing and in the best interests of the Club.

UTM

It’s turned into the Italian job:

‘We are the self preservation society!’ 🎶


If you are THAT bothered about the club, why are you still clinging onto the monetary value of the shares given to the trust?

You obviously knew about Alex May’s previous ‘discrepancies’, how on earth did you think allowing him to invest in the club would be good?

Why did you act like a complete and utter berk (being polite here) when it came to contract negotiations with players?


Anyway, this is non-football surely. Is there a self pity thread?

Quoted from topuphere666

The cancer of the club trying to have one more moment.
John. The club is a million miles away from where you left it in a massively short space of time.

We have new owners who are honest, who act with integrity and honesty. Owners that not actually say they want the best for the club but actually show they want the best for the club.
The summer transfer budget, the upgrades at Cheapside, the fanzone areas, the food and the ticket system.

You say money was available to do this previously? Weird as to why you didn’t implement any the above.

Finish off your bottle of red.
Take your ‘benign loans’
And ride off into the sunset for a lovely game of snooker at your house.

You might be a fan of the club. But you’re not a fan in the minds of any of us. You almost ruined us.

1878 are the future and intercourse me. It’s exciting.

Who’s that team we call the Grimsby?
Who’s that team we all adore?
We’re the famous black and whites
And we’re fkin dynamite…


AND WE DON’T HAVE FENTY ANYMORE.

Quoted from 1542

The biggest let down of all is the acquisition of those £200k Trust shares - This is believed to be totally disgusting.

Maybe gifting this back would go along way.

Also, using UTMM reminds most people of one of the biggest declines in the Clubs History and a man that professed to love the Club but didn’t actually give a sh 1te.

Try returning what wasn’t yours to the rightful owners - that would be doing the right thing and in the best interests of the Club.

UTM

Exactly this.

If you are asking for respect, give back what was never yours.

John. You don’t live here anymore. Would be wonderful if we could take this post down and delete him. His presence does nothing for the club. Thank god the future it’s so promising.

I love the open and honest communication and how friendly it is. Their admission that they won’t always get it right.
I love how happier Hurst seems in every interview he does.
How good do the new facilities look too?
Spearheading campaigns which are not just good for the club but for the game as a whole
The squad Hurst is assembling has been stunning. We haven’t had such a good start since 1983
The food is stunning and receiving national recognition
Good beer in the ground. New ticketing system which is stunningly easy to use.
Our only concern is where to put everyone!

Quoted from sonik

Something to say Sonik? Quote posting me with nothing added?
Happy to discuss any parts of my post. Fenty is not a fan in the eyes of any of us on here - you being the only exception.

Write off the £200k, that’s it.

Should not be allowed back in the ground after state he left it in.. give the Trust their money back!

Quoted from GollyGTFC

I find some of the replies a bit pathetic. There are constant snipes at JF on here and his name was being sung at BP yesterday & people on here pretend they don’t know he’s thin skinned and pretend to not understand why he’s come on here to defend himself. It’s time to move on. Leave him alone to support GTFC in peace.
.

Sorry Ghandi, not everyone’s a forgiving as you.

As for ‘defending himself’, there are about 5 articles worth of specific allegations made by Cod Almighty covering the last 2 decades, plus more concerning his tax affairs. He’s not refuted a single one, but he has - amazingly - tried to take credit for the work of the current board. If the worst he’s subjected to is a few swear words on a message board, I think he can consider himself very lucky.

I'm quite happy for him to think what he likes, his thoughts/beliefs have no bearing on our future and all the late night statements wont change a thing.

Quoted from ska face

Sorry Ghandi, not everyone’s a forgiving as you.

As for ‘defending himself’, there are about 5 articles worth of specific allegations made by Cod Almighty covering the last 2 decades, plus more concerning his tax affairs. He’s not refuted a single one, but he has - amazingly - tried to take credit for the work of the current board. If the worst he’s subjected to is a few swear words on a message board, I think he can consider himself very lucky.

Beacuase i havent read them, dont need to and dont want to.

If, and it’s a big if, he has bought a season ticket. Let’s be honest, you have to take what he says with a pinch of salt given his track record…that’s probably the first lot of cash he’s actually put in the club…

Hey John,

Enough of the Tory politics where you skirt around questions and make half-truth statements.

How much did you put in, in total and how much did you take out. (don't forget we know about the pension payments and £200k trust shares).

You were never a fan and I find it extremely insulting for you to suggest so. You were ALWAYS in it for (your own words) "A football fortune", the way you have run this club proves that you were all about yourself and no one else.  I stopped coming to Blundell Park and spending money at the club because of you, you nearly succeeded in killing my love of football and this club. Well intercourse you, we have our club back.

Do the right thing for once and give the Trust their shares back!

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

Beacuase i havent read them, dont need to and dont want to.

A true Tory…if I shut my eyes and pretend it’s not there it’ll go away…

Just imagine how good that Fanzone would be with a £200k cash injection. New roof, some heaters for winter, maybe one in the Pontoon/Main corner?

Still, at least he’s a fan eh?

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

Beacuase i havent read them, dont need to and dont want to.

Yeah course you haven’t you bullshítter.

Quoted from ska face

Yeah course you haven’t you bullshítter.

Hard to refute facts I guess…ironic given his username…

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

Beacuase i havent read them, dont need to and dont want to.

http://codalmighty.com

Help yourself here’s the link

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

Hey John,

Enough of the Tory politics where you skirt around questions and make half-truth statements.

How much did you put in, in total and how much did you take out. (don't forget we know about the pension payments and £200k trust shares).

You were never a fan and I find it extremely insulting for you to suggest so. You were ALWAYS in it for (your own words) "A football fortune", the way you have run this club proves that you were all about yourself and no one else.  I stopped coming to Blundell Park and spending money at the club because of you, you nearly succeeded in killing my love of football and this club. Well intercourse you, we have our club back.

Do the right thing for once and give the Trust their shares back!

If there is genuine interest in me answering anything I will. There is a lot of total nonsense that has been said about pensions. I have not profited one iota from pension payments to me they simply contra / replaced loans that I made to the club from my company Five Star Fish when I owned it.  

Proceeds from the Trust shares will be invested in Grimsby causes in due course of which there are many. The Club has new investors and financing the club is a matter for them now.

John who?

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

If there is genuine interest in me answering anything I will. There is a lot of total nonsense that has been said about pensions. I have not profited one iota from pension payments to me they simply contra / replaced loans that I made to the club from my company Five Star Fish when I owned it.  

Proceeds from the Trust shares will be invested in Grimsby causes in due course of which there are many. The Club has new investors and financing the club is a matter for them now.

Invested so you can profit even more from money that isn't yours!

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

If there is genuine interest in me answering anything I will. There is a lot of total nonsense that has been said about pensions. I have not profited one iota from pension payments to me they simply contra / replaced loans that I made to the club from my company Five Star Fish when I owned it.  

Proceeds from the Trust shares will be invested in Grimsby causes in due course of which there are many. The Club has new investors and financing the club is a matter for them now.

Just go now it's not doing your mental health any good. Just walk away and never set foot in BP again, you will never be accepted as a fan by the majority of true fans. Don't explain as most will not believe you anyway. Just go, you know it makes sense.

Quoted from aussiej

Attention seeker...  You pathetic creature!
Now watch us lose the next game after he has cast his evil spell over the club yet again...

Stupid twit

Proceeds from the trust shares, should have been invested in the club you moron.

Wil you give me an H --- H
M --- M
RRRRRRRRRR - R
C --- C

What have you got? HMRC

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

If there is genuine interest in me answering anything I will. There is a lot of total nonsense that has been said about pensions. I have not profited one iota from pension payments to me they simply contra / replaced loans that I made to the club from my company Five Star Fish when I owned it.  

Proceeds from the Trust shares will be invested in Grimsby causes in due course of which there are many. The Club has new investors and financing the club is a matter for them now.

Grimsby causes? Still working a convicted fraudster? Forgive me if I don’t hold much faith in any likely projects…and even as someone who couldn’t care less about you, my advice would be to swerve May…but, as your other unimportant side kick/confident/sycophant/chum/friend/alibi…(insert whichever you choose) stated, and I paraphrase…”people shouldn’t have been worried he (May) didn’t really commit a crime against people, just organisations…he’s done his time (this isn’t true by the way, there’s a strong possibility he’ll be deported).

For someone extremely reluctant to part with money, sliding in to bed with May very rarely ends well…

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

If there is genuine interest in me answering anything I will. There is a lot of total nonsense that has been said about pensions. I have not profited one iota from pension payments to me they simply contra / replaced loans that I made to the club from my company Five Star Fish when I owned it.  

Proceeds from the Trust shares will be invested in Grimsby causes in due course of which there are many. The Club has new investors and financing the club is a matter for them now.

Proceeds will be invested? Give the money back to the Trust or Mike Parker. It was never yours to be invested.

Have to admire it really, even with actual proof he still denies things…

Not sure if the OP really was Fenty, but as the only thing that took a nosedive greater than Towns fortune's under his stewardship was his reputation, I wouldn't concern yourselves.

Fenty appears to have demonstrated that he is, and always will be, small time. A person seemingly of insufficient intellect to recognise the immense good fortune he had in selling FSF, and instead allowing his ego to convince himself that he was some kind of business magnet; a big player destined for greatness.

Inevitably, he was found out and we all witnessed the car crash that was his stewardship of Town, his political career and his personal standing locally.

Imagine starting from such a winning position, and yet managing to transform yourself into a bitter exile, ranting alone on an internet forum, seemingly tired and emotional in the early hours of Sunday morning, despised by some of the most generous natured fans and townsfolk.

Town are under new stewardship, with a bright future and are winning on the pitch. Fans are returning, people are smiling and the future is bright. I would humbly suggest that we shouldn't let any bad feeling ruin that, however justified.

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

If there is genuine interest in me answering anything I will. There is a lot of total nonsense that has been said about pensions. I have not profited one iota from pension payments to me they simply contra / replaced loans that I made to the club from my company Five Star Fish when I owned it.  

Proceeds from the Trust shares will be invested in Grimsby causes in due course of which there are many. The Club has new investors and financing the club is a matter for them now.

Hate to break it to you, they ain’t yours to invest anywhere. Give ‘em back!!

What’s that beeping sound? Oh, it’s our John reversing at a rate of knots realising he’s in over his head again…

Forgot to ask John, how’s the tax man keeping? Did that other idiot get his 100k back in the deal (I know he never put any in but from what’s gone on I assumed that’s how it worked)…

Moderators
For the good of the Fishy.


Lock the thread,  delete the thread , block the user.

For years I would say it could be worse, at least we have a club to support.

Then slowly I came to realise that yes, it could be worse but it could also be better.

And you know what, it could be better, and it is; a hell of a lot better.  It doesn't feel like I support the same club any more.  Of course there are some things that remain the same, we still play at Blundell Park, we still wear black and white stripes, and you see the same familiar faces sat around you but that's where it ends. And I wouldn't change it for the world (well except maybe the non-league part).

There's an air of positivity around, which I can't remember experiencing before.  As well as the people that have sat near me for years, I'm seeing faces that I recognise from years ago, I'm seeing faces I've never seen at Blundell Park in my life.  And it sounds like they want to keep coming back.

Long may it continue.

UTM

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

I am sorry if my presence at the game yesterday offends some.

I have cared passionately for this club for many years and have looked after it and its finances with all the care and consideration within my capacity and have always been a fan and will always be a fan.

Today was the first game I could make with the season ticket purchased before the season start due to being away on business, and it was great to see a performance that looks like there’s another gear there if needed.

Congratulations to Paul Hurst on the fantastic start to the season and long may that continue with a swift return to the Football League. Hiring a manger is always a lottery, but with Paul the odds favoured it being a very good appointment, so it is pleasing to see things are going well on the field and long may that continue.

I am aware of much inuendo and frankly miss information / inuendo and downright rubbish published about me, and my time involved in the club that is well off the mark. I have opted for the dignified silence route and to let the new owners get on with the sterling job in hand.  

Like you guys. I am massively disappointed to be out of the football league. Crap happens on the field, but I refute that the club was run down, or has been handed over in a bad shape. Or that there has been any malpractice in the financial accounting whatsoever.

The deal struck with 1878 was negotiated to help the new owners in their newfound responsibility. I continue to finance the football club for up to 3 years with just £1.5million of my loans remaining in the club.

These negotiations considered the wellbeing of the club, with myself agreeing to continue to fund the club for up to three years upon resignation from the board of directors and that I leave in place for the time being my financial guarantees which underpinned season ticket sales, which I have graciously done.  

There is no other past director that has left the club without being fully repaid their loans. During my time approaching £1 million has been repaid to past directors and I don’t believe that I should be treated any differently. At the peak of my financial support for the club my commitment was in excess of £4.5million. The loans have been described as benign and certainly have been with not one penny interest ever being charged.

It should be known that the club is without any other debt, unlike most clubs which have run up overdraft facilities, HMRC debt and had taken Football League loans just to get through covid. In contrast when the deal was done, there was no such debt ‘NIL’. Additionally, there was a cash balance of around £800 thousand pounds in the club’s bank account, and it owns Blundell Park and has a considerable number of assets.

During my time, I engendered wider ownership of the club with an open-door policy where my contact details were there for all and have never knowingly not responded with good grace and humility that such office should demand.

The Club was a Public Limited Company ‘PLC’ and as such the accounts published disclose much more information than a standard limited company does. This brought considerable scrutiny with the accounts being published, prior to AGM’s EGM’s and at fans forums, that were always well attended and video recorded for wider interest. I embraced this and have always been very open to those who attended and as witnessed by others who viewed the recorded footage.

The club was left in a very sound financial position with 1878 not having to provide one single penny of investment into the club to date. Funds left on account enabled the club to continue its investment of the past regime in ground and facility improvements at Blundell Park, Cheapside and the Wintringham Academy, with major items such as new flood lighting, Led lighting in various stands, new heating systems and showers in the main stand, new disabled facilities and toilets, a new ladies toilet block, four changing rooms at Oasis Wintringham school, new heart and GPS monitors, Gym equipment, new ticketing system, pitch renovations at BP & WOS and the list goes on and on.

I could go into specifics about Academy funding and the boards consideration of proposed funding from Alex May that have raised much question along with other sensitive subjects but sign off here for now!! wishing you all well and the very best of health.

UTMM
Kind Regards John  

Absolutely deluded. Seek help or just turn up, watch games and give your trap a rest. We've heard all your desperate attempts to find success in abject failure for a long and gruelling 20 years. Haven't posted much on here since you left as there's been very little to moan or worry about, unlike the club under your tenure.

Just bought my ticket for Maidenhead, looking forward to it. I suggest you do the same. Just look forward and write off a failure. Good at fish, shite at football. Try to be self-deprecating, it may help. And in your vain attempt at trying to claim a positive legacy at GTFC, let me lay it out for you..

2002–03      First Division 24th of 24 Relegated      
2003–04      Second Division 21st of 24 Relegated
2004–05      League Two 18th of 24
2005–06      League Two 4th of 24 Lost in the play-off final.
2006–07      League Two 15th of 24      
2007–08      League Two 16th of 24      
2008–09      League Two 22nd of 24 Relegated but not relegated
2009–10      League Two 23rd of 24 Relegated to Non League
2010–11      Non League
2011–12      Non League
2012–13      Non League
2013–14      Non League
2014–15      Non League
2015–16      Non League
2016–17      League Two 14th of 24
2017–18      League Two 18th of 24      
2018–19      League Two 17th of 24
2019- 20      League Two 15th of 24
2020-21       League Two 24th of 24 Relegated to Non League.. again!!
2021-22       Non League


See you at Maidenhead?

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

If there is genuine interest in me answering anything I will. There is a lot of total nonsense that has been said about pensions. I have not profited one iota from pension payments to me they simply contra / replaced loans that I made to the club from my company Five Star Fish when I owned it.  

Proceeds from the Trust shares will be invested in Grimsby causes in due course of which there are many. The Club has new investors and financing the club is a matter for them now.

You like all on here have a right to your opinions, one of which is that you say you are a true fan.

You obtained the £200k of trust funds legally albeit as reports go you were holding a gun to their head. Presumably, this was to enforce your position as a shareholder and you are no longer a shareholder. Morally why not gift the £200k back to the Trust? This is what I, and many others, think a true fan should do given that you have a few bob in the bank.

As far as fans know your £1.5 million is being paid over 3 years. So why have a red line about transfer fees? and suck money from the club earlier than need be. That transfer money could have helped the club rebuild more quickly which is what a true fan would want, and forgo his personal interest which had been secured.

Like any club director you put up cash, loans or guarantees when funds are low, that is not just you but done in all clubs. So as a true fan why don't you do the honorable thing and admit that got it wrong. You could say:-

'To all fans and supporters at Grimsby Town Football I got wrong, big time. I am truly sorry for the mess I caused and left behind. As a token of my repentance I am returning the £200k to the Trust and have told 1878 that I no longer require any funds from transfers; this money can then be able to be reinvested in the club.'

So there you have it John cut and paste and some MIGHT start to forgive you and many won't. This in my opinion is what a person who claims to be a TRUE FAN should do.

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

I am sorry if my presence at the game yesterday offends some.

I have cared passionately for this club for many years and have looked after it and its finances with all the care and consideration within my capacity and have always been a fan and will always be a fan.

Today was the first game I could make with the season ticket purchased before the season start due to being away on business, and it was great to see a performance that looks like there’s another gear there if needed.

Congratulations to Paul Hurst on the fantastic start to the season and long may that continue with a swift return to the Football League. Hiring a manger is always a lottery, but with Paul the odds favoured it being a very good appointment, so it is pleasing to see things are going well on the field and long may that continue.

I am aware of much inuendo and frankly miss information / inuendo and downright rubbish published about me, and my time involved in the club that is well off the mark. I have opted for the dignified silence route and to let the new owners get on with the sterling job in hand.  

Like you guys. I am massively disappointed to be out of the football league. Crap happens on the field, but I refute that the club was run down, or has been handed over in a bad shape. Or that there has been any malpractice in the financial accounting whatsoever.

The deal struck with 1878 was negotiated to help the new owners in their newfound responsibility. I continue to finance the football club for up to 3 years with just £1.5million of my loans remaining in the club.

These negotiations considered the wellbeing of the club, with myself agreeing to continue to fund the club for up to three years upon resignation from the board of directors and that I leave in place for the time being my financial guarantees which underpinned season ticket sales, which I have graciously done.  

There is no other past director that has left the club without being fully repaid their loans. During my time approaching £1 million has been repaid to past directors and I don’t believe that I should be treated any differently. At the peak of my financial support for the club my commitment was in excess of £4.5million. The loans have been described as benign and certainly have been with not one penny interest ever being charged.

It should be known that the club is without any other debt, unlike most clubs which have run up overdraft facilities, HMRC debt and had taken Football League loans just to get through covid. In contrast when the deal was done, there was no such debt ‘NIL’. Additionally, there was a cash balance of around £800 thousand pounds in the club’s bank account, and it owns Blundell Park and has a considerable number of assets.

During my time, I engendered wider ownership of the club with an open-door policy where my contact details were there for all and have never knowingly not responded with good grace and humility that such office should demand.

The Club was a Public Limited Company ‘PLC’ and as such the accounts published disclose much more information than a standard limited company does. This brought considerable scrutiny with the accounts being published, prior to AGM’s EGM’s and at fans forums, that were always well attended and video recorded for wider interest. I embraced this and have always been very open to those who attended and as witnessed by others who viewed the recorded footage.

The club was left in a very sound financial position with 1878 not having to provide one single penny of investment into the club to date. Funds left on account enabled the club to continue its investment of the past regime in ground and facility improvements at Blundell Park, Cheapside and the Wintringham Academy, with major items such as new flood lighting, Led lighting in various stands, new heating systems and showers in the main stand, new disabled facilities and toilets, a new ladies toilet block, four changing rooms at Oasis Wintringham school, new heart and GPS monitors, Gym equipment, new ticketing system, pitch renovations at BP & WOS and the list goes on and on.

I could go into specifics about Academy funding and the boards consideration of proposed funding from Alex May that have raised much question along with other sensitive subjects but sign off here for now!! wishing you all well and the very best of health.

UTMM
Kind Regards John  

Probably time to draw a line under this. Clearly JF left the club in a relatively stable position compared to many NL and EFL clubs but that’s not a great comparison as many of them are badly managed, some of them also being complete vanity projects.

There is a different view and that is that the balance sheet may look stable but what about the future? Under JF the playing side in terms of squad and facilities coupled with bargain basement management appointments led to us being back in NL where incomes are harder to secure especially if we”re down here for a while which despite a great start is a distinct possibility. This in my view leaves the future relatively insecure especially in a COVID world.

How can allowing this club to sleepwalk back into relegation last season be proper stewardship that safeguards the club long term?

The last leadership did things their way, all boards do that regardless of what sector they operate in and the fact that JF’s board didn’t listen to a damn thing any 1 supporter told them or seek to collaboratively work with other potential stake holders completely lost sight of the fact that football clubs belong to their supporters and communities. Owners come and go in one way, shape or form clubs remain.

Personally I can live with the ups and downs on the field but the level of disengagement and at times damn right hostility (from both sides) that the JF regime ruled over and did very little to change will always leave me with the thought that we’ve missed so much opportunity especially post 2016.

When I say “opportunity” I mean not just on the pitch but also in terms if creating a club that everyone feels positively attached to and enjoys supporting, thankfully the 1878 guys get the importance of this alongside the security of positive financial reserves.

So my message to Fenty, Day, Marley and the invisible racehorse trainer is thank you for “holding” the club and keeping its head above water now stop trying to justify what you did and let the people who truly know how to take us forward get on with it.

UTM!!

Quoted from aldi_01

What’s that beeping sound? Oh, it’s our John reversing at a rate of knots realising he’s in over his head again…

Forgot to ask John, how’s the tax man keeping? Did that other idiot get his 100k back in the deal (I know he never put any in but from what’s gone on I assumed that’s how it worked)…

In the absence of rational debate and ridicules perpetual obsession in having a pop at me there is little point in making further comments.


Let’s all concentrate on the positivity on the field, long may that continue with a swift return to the football league.

Kind regards and all the very best of wishes.
John

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

In the absence of rational debate and ridicules perpetual obsession in having a pop at me there is little point in making further comments.


Let’s all concentrate on the positivity on the field, long may that continue with a swift return to the football league.

Kind regards and all the very best of wishes.
John

Your best post ever. Now just give the Trust what you owe and stay away from stuff that irritates your narcissist ego.

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

In the absence of rational debate and ridicules perpetual obsession in having a pop at me there is little point in making further comments.


Let’s all concentrate on the positivity on the field, long may that continue with a swift return to the football league.

Kind regards and all the very best of wishes.
John

Typical conservative swerve

Invested... the only place they should be invested is in the Trusts account

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

If there is genuine interest in me answering anything I will. There is a lot of total nonsense that has been said about pensions. I have not profited one iota from pension payments to me they simply contra / replaced loans that I made to the club from my company Five Star Fish when I owned it.  

Proceeds from the Trust shares will be invested in Grimsby causes in due course of which there are many. The Club has new investors and financing the club is a matter for them now.

You ran the club as your party runs the country. No vision and utter disregard for the punters.

No matter as you did me a big favour. As a previous West Londoner I've been watching Brentford for thirty plus years when not on Town duty. In January 2020 I'd made the decision not to renew my GY ST while you were still at the club and invested in one at BFC. That was frozen until this season by which time you had gone. I'm now hugely enjoying PL football but even that is second best to renewing my Town ST and I'm loving watching the Mariners again, home and away. We have our club back.

My friends and I commit to buying something from the club shop after every home win and we can do that in clear conscience now we know that you won't benefit from it.

I love the last line of the 'Who's that team...?' It is a celebration that your regime is finished. Amen to that.

Feck off, you're not liked here, we don't want you here and please stay off the wine so we don't get any more of your inane rambling.

I thought I’d forgotten about fenty then these threads pop up to bring the negativity back to this board...

I'm not going to waste too much time in here but one thing I would like to draw attention to is the ridiculousness of this parasite claiming to have paid for all the new gym equipment and relaying the pitch at BP when he wasn't even prepared to fork out for a pump for the balls at Cheapside last season.

A few people have said he should be banned on here across a few different threads and I wholeheartedly agree. Take this prick's voice away from him please Fishy admins and mods. He doesn't deserve to come here and be heard.

Quoted from Getyourfactsright

In the absence of rational debate and ridicules perpetual obsession in having a pop at me there is little point in making further comments.


Let’s all concentrate on the positivity on the field, long may that continue with a swift return to the football league.

Kind regards and all the very best of wishes.
John

I actually agree with you for once.
There would be a struggle to get rational debate on here for two reasons.

1. The feelings against you are so strong it would affect how we viewed your argument.

2.  You are not capable of rational debate.

Just like when you walked over to us all celebrating at Forrest Green you have misjudged the situation. Just because we are happy and cheering doesn’t mean we have forgotten.
It will be a long time before you will be able to approach the fans
without receiving some form of hostility. If you can accept that and move on it will be better for us and also for you.
UTM

Quoted from Cod marriner

I thought I’d forgotten about fenty then these threads pop up to bring the negativity back to this board...

Don’t let it be a negative. It’s a positive he’s gone and we don’t have to put up with this crap anymore! 👍

I wonder if it would be a good time to lock the thread at this point given John’s concluding remarks and the risk that a festering hostility and bitterness will just cause an unwanted conflagration at a time when there is so much positivity, togetherness, hope and enjoyment permeating the club. It’s the present and the future that matters now.
UTM

Unbefuckinglievable

Read the original post with my mouth open at the sheer arrogance of it.  Whoever described it as narcissistic behaviour is spot on.

Battered us to oblivion with his behaviour yet wants to still feel relevant and wanted. Literally craving his cronies to applaud his actions.

Then I thought about it for five minutes and do you know what, you're not getting a rise John. This club is on the verge of something very special. Fans are back, the football is good, the culture is developing and we're going somewhere. You and your wine fuelled midnight rants can't stop that. You've no influence now, you're irrelevant and are, from here on, just a skidmark on the history of this club.  Ta'ra.

The reality is no-one cares anymore John. You’re irrelevant. You lost relevance a long time ago.

The animosity from fans is because you were worked out. That, and the hold you have on the trust shares.

A normal person, even for the sake of their own health, would distance themselves away from anything to do with the club - given that it’s no secret the feelings a lot hold. That includes message boards.

Only someone who craves attention would light the fire. Again.

Pathetic really. And sad in a way.

For your own health , of which you highlighted in many blundering statements on the way, and for the good of your own sanity, and probably for the good of your family - just leave it.

No more statements, no games, gimmicks, egocentric comebacks on a message board after a few, just sit back, relax, and watch the progress of the club from behind the scenes. If you have to attend - as a fan..do it quietly, conspicuously..

But make sure that the trust get their 200k back first eh.

Loads of balls, absolutely no brains whatsoever.

WOW after a few months of positivity about the club BOOM he's back and old wounds have been opened, if you really want to build bridges do the right thing give the trust its shares back

Quoted from diehardmariner

Read the original post with my mouth open at the sheer arrogance of it.  Whoever described it as narcissistic behaviour is spot on.

Battered us to oblivion with his behaviour yet wants to still feel relevant and wanted. Literally craving his cronies to applaud his actions.

Then I thought about it for five minutes and do you know what, you're not getting a rise John. This club is on the verge of something very special. Fans are back, the football is good, the culture is developing and we're going somewhere. You and your wine fuelled midnight rants can't stop that. You've no influence now, you're irrelevant and are, from here on, just a skidmark on the history of this club.  Ta'ra.

That would be me, Poojah, Forza and a couple of others I believe…

I’m not sure this thread is a great look on anyone, in particular the OP, however I’ll resist the urge to snipe and instead pose a few genuine questions about the events which led to our relegation into non-league for a second time. It should not be forgotten that despite the positivity in the immediate term, the club is currently in a position from which it may not recover for a long time, or even ever.

Whilst the general picture seems clear to most, there remain a number of big, unanswered questions around the specifics of what happened over the course of the last two years. Here goes.

1. What was the financial mechanic used to attract Ian Holloway, a financially comfortable TV pundit, to this struggling then League Two club after two months without a manager?

2. What do you feel was behind the complete shift in demeanour and apparent effort level of Holloway following the the Covid hiatus? Did the pandemic harm the possibility of some future financial gain for him (and others involved with running the club)?

3. How long had the possibility of investment from Alex May been on the table? Was this known about at the time of Holloway’s appointment, or was it intended to reignite plans scuppered by Covid?

4. What were your intentions for Alex May’s investment in the club, and at what point did you become aware of his litany of serious convictions?

5. Why did the board allow a manager who had apparently lost all interest in managing the team, to handle the preparations to last season so disastrously and with so little due diligence - having just one friendly (against lowly non-league opposition) and signing almost exclusively unproven youngsters and ageing players on their way down?

That is all.

800,000 in the bank yet you would not give a 30 goal a season striker £100 pay rise and allowed him to walk for nothing. Says it all to me you was more interested in seeing the piles of notes build then using OUR hard earned cash on giving us a product to be proud of

Donate to Grimsby causes with your own money if you like. That would be a good thing to do.

But return the £200k to the Trust. That money was intended to help the club when Parker put it in, and it would still be very helpful.

Quoted from Bigdog

Absolutely deluded. Seek help or just turn up, watch games and give your trap a rest. We've heard all your desperate attempts to find success in abject failure for a long and gruelling 20 years. Haven't posted much on here since you left as there's been very little to moan or worry about, unlike the club under your tenure.

Just bought my ticket for Maidenhead, looking forward to it. I suggest you do the same. Just look forward and write off a failure. Good at fish, shite at football. Try to be self-deprecating, it may help. And in your vain attempt at trying to claim a positive legacy at GTFC, let me lay it out for you..

2002–03      First Division 24th of 24 Relegated      
2003–04      Second Division 21st of 24 Relegated
2004–05      League Two 18th of 24
2005–06      League Two 4th of 24 Lost in the play-off final.
2006–07      League Two 15th of 24      
2007–08      League Two 16th of 24      
2008–09      League Two 22nd of 24 Relegated but not relegated
2009–10      League Two 23rd of 24 Relegated to Non League
2010–11      Non League
2011–12      Non League
2012–13      Non League
2013–14      Non League
2014–15      Non League
2015–16      Non League
2016–17      League Two 14th of 24
2017–18      League Two 18th of 24      
2018–19      League Two 17th of 24
2019- 20      League Two 15th of 24
2020-21       League Two 24th of 24 Relegated to Non League.. again!!
2021-22       Non League


See you at Maidenhead?

I don’t know how he dare post on here or attend matches. Just look at this disgraceful period out club has endured. Pure hell under his watch, the worst owner we have ever had. Been a torrid 17 years, relegating us to non league was appalling, do do it twice us absolutely unforgivable. And we all know we could have gone another 3/4 times.

This is not a small club, we are showing that now after some wonderful leadership. We are on the up, we all know this league (thanks John), and we’ll need to get behind the boys.

The only time I will defend him is yes he has always responded to my few emails. Let’s not let him bring us down on here (done that already), stay positive and let’s use that energy to get behind our club.

Dignified silence!!!!! Now there's an idea John

Your good fraudulent friend Alex May or whatever he's called this week was in talks with you and probably very close to sticking £1m of his money into the club. A real fan wouldn't contemplate getting into business with such a man but you went further and abused your council position, introducing him to your friends in high places.

You are very lucky that somebody tipped off the media about Alex and got a nice picture of him entering our ground when fans couldn't attend. Had that dodgy deal gone ahead with the club and/or council, it could have been a slippery slope to prison for you.

You keep swerving important questions. Why isn't the £200k being given back to the Trust, Mike Parker or deducted from your repayment? £200k profit for 18 years of failure stinks. Just remember that is classed as a capital gain so you need to pay tax on it. I know you and your businesses forget sometimes.

Finally, you are not welcome at Blundell Park and if you aren't going to answer reasonable questions, such as why the football club won't be getting that £200k then take yourself off this forum and don't bother coming back.

Quoted from LH

Loads of balls

Misshapen ones at that.

It is classic narcissist stuff highlighted by the suggestion he is responsible for the good happening now whilst taking no responsibility for the utter excrement that occurred when he was running the club. 92 out of 92 last season? Just unlucky. Improvements being made across the club since the day he left. All down to John those.

Quoted from aldi_01

That would be me, Poojah, Forza and a couple of others I believe…

Only a narcissist would have taken over the club in the way he did. Then he discovered that running a football club wasn’t quite as easy as being a fish merchant. Then we all had to suffer.

Hi John it's really unfortunate that your political career is in now in the toilet, entirely as a result of your own actions. So sad you won't be able to coast into Vickers safe seat when he finally packs it in xoxo

Brass neck of the girl private really…

Quoted from Poojah

I’m not sure this thread is a great look on anyone, in particular the OP, however I’ll resist the urge to snipe and instead pose a few genuine questions about the events which led to our relegation into non-league for a second time. It should not be forgotten that despite the positivity in the immediate term, the club is currently in a position from which it may not recover for a long time, or even ever.

Whilst the general picture seems clear to most, there remain a number of big, unanswered questions around the specifics of what happened over the course of the last two years. Here goes.

1. What was the financial mechanic used to attract Ian Holloway, a financially comfortable TV pundit, to this struggling then League Two club after two months without a manager?

2. What do you feel was behind the complete shift in demeanour and apparent effort level of Holloway following the the Covid hiatus? Did the pandemic harm the possibility of some future financial gain for him (and others involved with running the club)?

3. How long had the possibility of investment from Alex May been on the table? Was this known about at the time of Holloway’s appointment, or was it intended to reignite plans scuppered by Covid?

4. What were your intentions for Alex May’s investment in the club, and at what point did you become aware of his litany of serious convictions?

5. Why did the board allow a manager who had apparently lost all interest in managing the team, to handle the preparations to last season so disastrously and with so little due diligence - having just one friendly (against lowly non-league opposition) and signing almost exclusively unproven youngsters and ageing players on their way down?

That is all.

I'd like you to answer these questions honestly