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FFS let it rest will you!

The new owners have repeatedly said they are drawing a line under the last regime, it has gone, and the past cannot be changed, so it is a complete and utter waste of energy constantly bringing it up over and over and over again.

Why do you see the need to keep on depressing us all with the past going ons? We have enough on our plate as it is.

" You never go forward looking backwards"

Wow - you forgot so much of the rubbish we've had to put up.

Fundamentally, I have a suspicion if John Fenty had never been involved we would be sat in a new stadium, probably in the Championship, perhaps having enjoyed a season or two in top flight.

For those who think thats a pipe dream, Barnsley are in the Championship play offs with Brentford, Swansea and Bournmouth - we were bigger than all those clubs in the 90s.

Of the the hundreds of owners of ELF clubs in the last two decades, Fenty would make the top 5 of worst owners.

From what I've read so far it brought to mind "The Prince" by Machiavelli

That was a work of fiction though..... :(

Regardless of what the new owners have said they want*, there is nothing wrong with having a retrospective. It’s good that it’s all being put together in one place. Until this is done and a full reckoning made, I don’t think we can fully leave the past in the past. Forget the past st your peril.

* none be of this will stop us putting our heart and soul into supporting the Mariners’ rebirth. Besides, 1878 have said they want to listen to supporters. So between what they want and what they’ll get, there’s going to be some give and take.

I have to say, the author of the article has done a lot of research into the early days. As a bit of a history nerd, I’d like to have seen him cite his sources for some of the stuff. 😁 He’s done a great job.

I certainly think things will come to light over the coming months but it's important to understand too that you can't change the past but you can shape the future. For that reason, our energy should be going into what we can do to make sure our future is bright.

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

From what I've read so far it brought to mind "The Prince" by Machiavelli

That was a work of fiction though..... :(

It was a work of political philosophy, in the form of advice to leaders.

I could be wrong though. It’s nearly 40 years since I read it. 🙁

I suspect that many of the things many of us knew and spoke out about, the dodgy deals, tax evasion, lack of money going in the club, cash going the other way and so on will begin to come to light...I wonder if those who were quick to defend old honest John will still choose to ignore it or excuse it via some flimsy excuses?

We can move on, that’s great but in order to move on we have to remember the past. He more we find out, the more those ‘stories’ we had become reality the more we can change the club.

Those so quick to leap to John’s defence, where are they? What do they think? The more we hear and find out the worse it seems to get.

We shouldn’t forget the past, put it behind us yes, but never forget.

It appears our friendly despot owner was worse than we’d ever imagined...

Quoted from mimma

FFS let it rest will you!

The new owners have repeatedly said they are drawing a line under the last regime, it has gone, and the past cannot be changed, so it is a complete and utter waste of energy constantly bringing it up over and over and over again.

Why do you see the need to keep on depressing us all with the past going ons? We have enough on our plate as it is.

" You never go forward looking backwards"

He’s taken £200k of trust money. So no

Can't wait for Part Two ??)

Quoted from Bristol Mariner

He’s taken £200k of trust money. So no

Really well said.

The sad bit is that, with Fenty, nothing surprises me.

The good bit is that it’s history.

Totally agree that it’s in the past, but let’s not forget what actually happened and let it be a lesson for it not to happen again.

Some of the things mentioned, I had no idea about, and it makes you wonder what else has happened that won’t ever get mentioned. Dodgy deals, dodgy sponsors, anything else that’s happened? Have the club missed out on money because people were taking back handers when lucrative offers were on the table? Have we missed out on players?

Whatever happens, the club has been bought much akin to ‘needing total refurbishment’ by the new owners and am sure (pray and hope) that lightening doesn’t strike twice.

I think JF is very lucky that supporters weren’t allowed into the ground for the period after Christmas. I darent imagine what could’ve happened to his £80k motor!

I wonder if those who are saying "it's in the past, move on" also defended Fenty for the last 19 years. I can't be arsed to check like but it's a strange attitude to take.

It's a past where only a few were brave enough to do anything meaningful like boycott the club. We all need to learn from it. Of course it's all in the past but thanks to some great research, it's now also all in one place. A useful archive and reference point for the worst owner in the club's history.

Quoted from mirrorballman

I wonder if those who are saying "it's in the past, move on" also defended Fenty for the last 19 years. I can't be arsed to check like but it's a strange attitude to take.

It's a past where only a few were brave enough to do anything meaningful like boycott the club. We all need to learn from it. Of course it's all in the past but thanks to some great research, it's now also all in one place. A useful archive and reference point for the worst owner in the club's history.

Well I said its "all in the past" but in no way have I ever defended Fenty. I have decided that a potential trip to Maidenhead is enough of a reminder of his legacy. I have also decided to channel my anger into positive energy and support towards the new owners and the future. Anything else is now a waste of time.

It's an excellent article. Incredibly well researched and written.

Don't ignore it just because 'it's the past, let's move on'. To me, reading it made me feel incredibly happy that this man is well shot of the football club.

I can understand why you might not want to read it, and that's a personal choice. But I don't think the author did it to wallow in pity, more to further expose a man who shouldn't be welcomed back to the football club or local politics.

Perhaps some people won't be aware of things in the article so it's good to look at how we ended up in the places we did and the toxic environment the boardroom became. Plus how many things Fenty did at the club with hostile and aggressive actions like his takeover in itself. He was ruthless in forcing his will with threats and got rid of his opponents to replace them with cronies.

Quoted from Kris2

Perhaps some people won't be aware of things in the article so it's good to look at how we ended up in the places we did and the toxic environment the boardroom became. Plus how many things Fenty did at the club with hostile and aggressive actions like his takeover in itself. He was ruthless in forcing his will with threats and got rid of his opponents to replace them with cronies.

This! If that story was more widely known at the time.....

Yes a very well researched article, very comprehensive.

We shouldn't ignore the past, we need to learn from it, so in future the likes of fenty never get as close to destroying the club as he did

Quoted from KingstonMariner

This! If that story was more widely known at the time.....

Agreed although there were a few at the time that knew these things, they were all in the public but people believed his nonsense that without him there would be no club.

I can hand in heart say that the pro Fenty morons that sit near me will still think that article is all nonsense...they used to argue with the actual facts. Fenty himself would argue with those things.

We can move on but it’s a story that needs telling, fans deserve to know. If they then still choose to ignore it then more fool them...

Quoted from aldi_01

Agreed although there were a few at the time that knew these things, they were all in the public but people believed his nonsense that without him there would be no club.

I can hand in heart say that the pro Fenty morons that sit near me will still think that article is all nonsense...they used to argue with the actual facts. Fenty himself would argue with those things.

We can move on but it’s a story that needs telling, fans deserve to know. If they then still choose to ignore it then more fool them...

There are a few on here given the number of red cross's people get for any criticism of Fenty & Co. ;)

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

A very good piece of writing, incredibly well researched. It really puts to bed the myth that has been cultivated around Fenty, that he was some benevolent philanthropist who stepped in only when the club were staring extinction in the face. The article lays bare what may be seen as the intimidation, the bullying and the machinations which led him taking a stranglehold over he club over the course of a number of years. This is the most comprehensive and accessible summary of Fenty’s shenanigans I’ve ever read, and it’s only Part 1. Parts 2 and (I imagine) 3 will be illuminating as the wheels come off and the behaviour becomes more and more erratic.

Quoted from aldi_01

Agreed although there were a few at the time that knew these things, they were all in the public but people believed his nonsense that without him there would be no club.

I can hand in heart say that the pro Fenty morons that sit near me will still think that article is all nonsense...they used to argue with the actual facts. Fenty himself would argue with those things.

We can move on but it’s a story that needs telling, fans deserve to know. If they then still choose to ignore it then more fool them...

What I’ve never heard before are the machinations that went on before he stepped up his involvement in what was it 2004?

Quoted from KingstonMariner

What I’ve never heard before are the machinations that went on before he stepped up his involvement in what was it 2004?

There were always the stories doing the rounds of the bullying and his nonsense diatribe against anyone that dared challenge him...

Are those who see he can do no wrong or think he did well the bury their head sorts or is it a blind love?

Like the bloke near me at the match, he literally never blames the club or players for anything. It’s always the Referees fault, the weather, the manager, the physio...anyone really, except the club or players which is odd. He once blamed the ref for great through ball for the oppo and good finish Becauee the ref obscured the view of the centre half apparently...is it these types that believe the Fenty nonsense? Is is these people that ignore hard facts Becauee they genuinely think the club would’ve gone to the great football graveyard in the sky?

I imagine his legal team will be racking up the overtime reading that.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

I imagine his legal team will be racking up the overtime reading that.

Won’t be able to afford a legal team when the tax lady gets him

Quoted from headingly_mariner

I imagine his legal team will be racking up the overtime reading that.

Do you think? I only read it briefly yesterday but it came across as a compilation of events reported by the Telegraph over the years rather than any new or unfounded accusations.

Quoted from Poojah

Do you think? I only read it briefly yesterday but it came across as a compilation of events reported by the Telegraph over the years rather than any new or unfounded accusations.

If his legal team do contact CA, then I presume each an every point will be replied to with a valid source.

Quoted from Iknowyoursecret

Won’t be able to afford a legal team when the tax lady gets him

[img]https://i2-prod.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/article1300863.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200c/3_Grimsby-Town-director-Philip-Day.jpg[/img]

I love a box set.
Does this series have a happy ending ?

Quoted from Poojah

Do you think? I only read it briefly yesterday but it came across as a compilation of events reported by the Telegraph over the years rather than any new or unfounded accusations.

This was my view, nothing there that isn’t publicly available. Pure facts, no flannel or opinion...although given what we know about Honest John I’d imagine he’ll still believe it’s all lies...

If I’m honest, I read it and just found myself nodding and simply realising that my opinion of the man has never really changed, perhaps gotten worse...

Some of the stuff about the wranglings in the board room 20 years ago sound more like they’re from Shareholder meetings or AGMs. The GPE of thing that doesn’t get minuted. I’d be interested interested in how those bits were sourced.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Some of the stuff about the wranglings in the board room 20 years ago sound more like they’re from Shareholder meetings or AGMs. The GPE of thing that doesn’t get minuted. I’d be interested interested in how those bits were sourced.

Word of mouth, Grimsby is a small place and I guess CA have made it clear that they’re not saying it’s fact; merely offering a written narrative and one mans musings of the debacle that was John Fenty and Grimsby Town FC.

Plenty of people locally to offer stories and comments about Fenty that they’ve no reason to make up...woman I work with isn’t a town fan, nobody in her family is either, her, along with her dad despise the man for many a reason...nothing to do with his ineptitude at running a football team...

Oh I get that Aldi. The greatest tell I ever witnessed was when he made that comment about his scratched car at the fans forum, not 12 feet from me.

It’d be nice that the early stuff referenced was similarly witnessed by a number of people. Just to make sure the man keeps his “Getyourfactsright” trap shut on it.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Oh I get that Aldi. The greatest tell I ever witnessed was when he made that comment about his scratched car at the fans forum, not 12 feet from me.

It’d be nice that the early stuff referenced was similarly witnessed by a number of people. Just to make sure the man keeps his “Getyourfactsright” trap shut on it.

Weird isn’t it, my opinion of him was very low before that comment but I was there that night and the way he said it and the reasons just told me even more. From that point I was done with him...

I remember that old guy on RH earlier in the season.

"He was a prat then and he's a still a prat now!"

Quoted from jamesgtfc

If his legal team do contact CA, then I presume each an every point will be replied to with a valid source.

I can only commend the guy who is behind this... better late than never for us all to get an idea of what went on behind the scenes, so credit where it's due

I didn't live locally or get to too many games at the time Fenty started off getting a stranglehold on the club so a lot of this is new to me, but it certainly reinforces what I came to expect latterly

https://twitter.com/mark_stilton/status/1394731290965037058?s=20

Full credit to Mark Stilton and CA for this.
Based on Cod Almighty's history over writing about Fenty, I was surprised how even handed the article is. Very matter of fact, straying away from personal opinion, but damning all the same.
What surprised me the most is the "wheeler dealing", underhand tactics and blatant bullying, that goes on within and from the board. Call me naïve and idealistic, I always assumed the aim of the board of a football club would be pull and work together, for the betterment of the club as a whole? Surely you only join the board of a football club if you have the best interests of the club at heart?
As a youngster I would stand in the pontoon daydreaming that, to borrow a "Fentyism", if I ever received any football fortune I would invest in the club, maybe contribute to a new stadium. But after reading the CA article I realise I would probably be surrounded by vultures and charlatans, whose individual missions would be to fleece me of my entire "fortune" lock stock and barrel.

Quoted from Barrattstander

I love a box set.
Does this series have a happy ending ?

Hopefully mate, hopefully.

just goes to show how the man bullied his way thru life

And to think, for all these years, I thought he was just inept.

There are some good people out there in business now. The culture is (slowly) changing.

Fenty is a throwback to the male-dominated, misogynistic, arrogant decades of greed. Don't get me wrong - that spirit is alive and well now. But as a nation, as we've become more diverse and accepting, our business culture is evolving.

I've worked for CEOs (all men, mind) who are far more open to ideas, prepared to listen, and don't act arrogantly. They're paid to make big decisions, and they're paid for their accountability, so the pressure is never off. But when they trust the people 'below' them, they know they'll get the best from them, be better informed, and have less to worry about as a result.

It's an over-simplistic way of summing it up, but in Stockwood you have someone who 100% gets it. Empower the people, trust them, make them feel valued. It'll make his life as chairman so much easier, and everyone's happy.