In your opinion, the biggest problem at GTFC is?

Straightforward question!

Biggest problem at GTFC ?

The benign loan owed to John Fenty that's holding the club back.....so I suppose that comes under "the board" option.

Polls

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Straightforward question!

Not that straightfoward as I would vote equally for two of those.

Fans angry at how bad the football is.

Manager responsible for the football.

Who is responsible for choosing the manager?


—————


Fans angry at how bad the club’s PR is.

Media officer and his assistant are responsible for the club’s PR.

Who is responsible for choosing the media officer and his assistant?



So on and so forth.

Quoted from LH

Fans angry at how bad the football is.

Manager responsible for the football.

Who is responsible for choosing the manager?


—————


Fans angry at how bad the club’s PR is.

Media officer and his assistant are responsible for the club’s PR.

Who is responsible for choosing the media officer and his assistant?



So on and so forth.

Knock Knock

I would have voted for two of those,

BUT

Fans was not one of them.  

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Polls

Not only are you a racist. You’re sh1t at spelling too  

Quoted from grimsby pete

I would have voted for two of those,

BUT

Fans was not one of them.  

Pete - you don't get two X's in a Polling Booth - gut instinct, one or the other!

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Pete - you don't get two X's in a Polling Booth - gut instinct, one or the other!

I did but wanted the other as well.

I'd love someone who voted the fans are the biggest problem at GTFC to put their reasons forward and start a debate off..

15 people think the biggest problem the club has are the fans lolz. I suppose we're responsible for three relegations and the worst period in the club's history.

Quoted from Bigdog

I'd love someone who voted the fans are the biggest problem at GTFC to put their reasons forward and start a debate off..

That's why I put it in Bigdog in the hope that someone would potentially wish to debate it. I didn't realise until I listened to Burnsy on SportsTalk earlier this week that some home tickets for Hull are cheaper than ours.

I think we all know a few that voted the fans,

There are a few Fenty fans on here,

They always pop up when an anti Fenty thread is on here.

All of them.

JF - for not getting investors on the board and his many mistakes during his tenure.  
RS - wasting salaries on players that arent really needed....poor tatics and poor recruitment which may have been caused by targeting players bigger than GTFC.  However he did find Dembele.
The Fans - i dont care what you say I've had my ears to the ground and we are fickle.....sometimes deluded and never know a good thing when it was in front of us.  Sometimes our own fans do pish me off with there 'you can never win attitude'.  

How many accounts does Fenty have on here?

Quoted from davmariner

How many accounts does Fenty have on here?

15  

Don't worry Fenty fans there will be a lot less of us pesky fans next season.

The Fishy  Five and all the keyboard bullies !!!!

Anybody who voted the biggest problem at GTFC is the fans has had their head up their bottom for the last 15 years or part of the inner circle full of yes men.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/cmO8YVe.gif[/img]

Quoted from Marinerz93

Anybody who voted the biggest problem at GTFC is the fans has had their head up their bottom for the last 15 years or part of the inner circle full of yes men.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/cmO8YVe.gif[/img]

As a representative of a fans group I obviously couldn't (and do not) see the fans as "being the biggest problem" but I get increasingly frustrated on here that just because some people have a different opinion they are labelled as "part of the inner circle" or a "Fenty Fan".
When people are asking for a debate then the least they can do is accept that most if not all debates have two sides to them.
The survey results thus far are covering a huge range of opinions and each needs treating on its merits if we are to get close to making the right decisions about the way forward.
Oh and judging by the results of this poll so far it's a bloody big inner circle!!

Quoted from Gaffer58

The Fishy  Five and all the keyboard bullies !!!!

Right your name’s going on the list. Be warned!

The reason John Fenty became the chairman of GTFC was because he was a fan and also had the finances to do it, which is something a lot of fans would have done if they were in his position.
I would like to think that most of the fans in this position would have thought I can run a business but running a football club is something totally different. Any man with an ounce of sense would employ a person with a knowledge of running a football club. I think he thought Pete Furneaux could this, That was his big mistake.
To their credit they did get close to getting us within a few minutes of getting us into League One in 2006. We still had the play offs to give us that opportunity and we did indeed get to the finals only to be let down by his dear friend Mr Slade.
Since then it has been downhill except for getting us promoted back into Division 2.
Mr Fenty never seems to learn from his past mistakes. He has a board of people who have invested next to sodomist all into the club. All they are there for is to form a quorum who all agree with him. He then reappoints his dear friend Mr Slade, a manager who had been sacked in his last 3 appointments. In what way did JF think this would all end well. The fans were divided as soon as he was appointed. Along with the style of play, players signed, results, fans forum, the statement of intent a couple of weeks this season has been a catalogue of errors.
The couple of million you invested into the club many years ago was very welcome but the damage you have done to the club since then financially, personally for 3000 loyal fans, the history of the club and any future investment means you don't deserve a penny of it back.

Quoted from barralad

As a representative of a fans group I obviously couldn't (and do not) see the fans as "being the biggest problem" but I get increasingly frustrated on here that just because some people have a different opinion they are labelled as "part of the inner circle" or a "Fenty Fan".
When people are asking for a debate then the least they can do is accept that most if not all debates have two sides to them.
The survey results thus far are covering a huge range of opinions and each needs treating on its merits if we are to get close to making the right decisions about the way forward.
Oh and judging by the results of this poll so far it's a bloody big inner circle!!

Ian you have to accept that there are many backers of JF who follow his belief or stand by his statements, I agree that more people have said it's down to the fans but again some of these votes will be to back JF regardless, interesting that no one has said why it is the fans that are the biggest problem, bearing in mind fans of other clubs have done far worse than Town fans given our circumstances. You don't blame the customers if the food is rotten and service is extremely poor.

Also bear in mind Ian that if it wasn't for the hard and great work the trust do, the divide between fans and club would be greater and far more ferocious than it currently is. With what we have had to endure as fans over the last decade and support we have given, to me our fans are golden, yes we get a few who spoil things but this just isn't a Grimsby thing and sometimes those who blame our fans fail or are unwilling to accept this.

Quoted from barralad

As a representative of a fans group I obviously couldn't (and do not) see the fans as "being the biggest problem" but I get increasingly frustrated on here that just because some people have a different opinion they are labelled as "part of the inner circle" or a "Fenty Fan".
When people are asking for a debate then the least they can do is accept that most if not all debates have two sides to them.
The survey results thus far are covering a huge range of opinions and each needs treating on its merits if we are to get close to making the right decisions about the way forward.
Oh and judging by the results of this poll so far it's a bloody big inner circle!!

Well it was me asking for a debate. By doing so, I'm accepting there's two sides. My point was, I'm yet to see the other side (only in hitting a button or a red cross) and I'm intrigued to see if they can enlighten me in any way as to why the fans are the biggest problem..

Reasonable enough.. surely..

To be fair I may have been a bit harsh in some of my criticism of Fenty. I think he is a fan and has done his best.  However, all things must come to an end sometime and I think he and his board have demonstrated beyond doubt this season that their time is up.  His inner circle should stop protecting him and start having a quiet honest word with him to look at handing over the reigns to someone or something new. He has to count his benign loans as the cost of his stewardship and leave with some dignity before things turn nasty.

Quoted from Bigdog

Well it was me asking for a debate. By doing so, I'm accepting there's two sides. My point was, I'm yet to see the other side (only in hitting a button or a red cross) and I'm intrigued to see if they can enlighten me in any way as to why the fans are the biggest problem..

Reasonable enough.. surely..

Yep..pretty reasonable actually. It amazes me still that people who are already anonymous won't put their heads above the parapet and argue their corner. You can spend a long time putting together posts only to see red (and green) markings but no development of the argument.
As I said last night if I thought fans are the biggest problem then any position held on an organisation trying to represent fans would be untenable but in the interests of debate here's a stab at a Devil's Advocate view.
Blundell Park used to be a fortress. Now, if I were the manager of a team coming to Town I'd tell my players to go all out for an early goal because any positivity generated by a decent start turns instantly to outright anger if an early goal is conceded. There's a guy who sits four rows in front of me (Not you Friskney!) and to my right who bellows Slade Out with the precision of an atomic clock every minute. Now I'd be the last person to claim that our new goalkeeper is likely to be a future international but the all too apparent nervousness in the crowd in defensive situations must transmit to the players and, as the situation has got worse mistakes are creeping into a defence that earlier in the season was pretty strong. The Morecambe game for me was a totally new experience. In 50 years of watching the Mariners I've never heard the players being booed back onto the pitch (and during that half a century I've witnessed plenty of first half performances that have been more meritorious of it than recent fare served up.). I was out in Cleethorpes with an ex-player last weekend and the conversation turned to the atmosphere at Blundell Park. He was quite clear that playing in front of a decent sized crowd coupled with concentration levels required mean that you do not pick up individuals comments during the game because of the level of background noise. He went on to say though that you do notice it when walking out at the start or after half time. I get the criticism of Slade but he spends half time trying to gee the players up to get back into the game. Said group of players then walk out to a crescendo of boos from their own fans. Go figure! Freedom of speech is a marvellous maxim- one which I can get Voltairesque about but with it comes a certain sense of realism and responsibility. Booing (or cheering!) are not reflex reactions. You have to consciously decide to do it which is a tiny step away from thinking "What am I trying to achieve by this action?" There will be people who say it doesn't make a difference which begs the question "Why do it then?"
There are an increasing number of people who are prepared to countenance the team getting hammered to hasten the end of the manager. When Newport's second goal went in someone behind me, unable to contain their excitement was heard to say "Yesss he must be gone now!" What the actual....
Last Saturday in the concourse under the stand at Colchester at half time I spoke to someone. The conversation went something like this. Me:- Well that was better wasn't it?" Him:- "A bit-but it shouldn't be enough to save him he's got to go" I didn't see them after Colchester equalised but I'm willing to bet there was relief on his face!
Now let's turn to Social Media (ironic really seeing as all of this is on a form of Social Media)..I flipping hate it. Back in the day if someone started spouting sh1te in a pub you had two realistic options 1. Punch them (OK maybe not quite realistic in my position) or 2. Walk away. Now it's in your face. I turned on my phone whilst sat in a cafe last Saturday looking for team news. I was surprised by the line up but a large group of people on Facebook in the badly misnamed GTFC Fans Group decided in an instant that it wasn't going to work. In most cases there were no elucidated reasons for these pronouncements but it's a feeding frenzy where anything (even slagging off the current players as a means to get at the manager) goes. These comments are by and large from people that you wouldn't come into contact with under any other circumstance.
It's got to the stage where fans are being called idiots (and worse) for continuing to support the team. To counteract that I'm fed up of seeing posts on Social Media along the lines of "I'm not going again until Slade is gone" I've been around long enough now to know that we have had far worse times than we are currently having. NO-ONE wants to see us back in the abyss and I'll concede that part of the problem is at the moment that that experience is still too raw and genuine fans are worried.
I've just read through what I've written and there are plenty of opportunities for people to drive buses through the gaps in my arguments. Let's have the debate and at least some acceptance that fans have some responsibility for their actions.
**Awaits arryarryarry's two line condemnation linking the whole post to a far worse scenario from the past**

Quoted from realist

To be fair I may have been a bit harsh in some of my criticism of Fenty. I think he is a fan and has done his best.  However, all things must come to an end sometime and I think he and his board have demonstrated beyond doubt this season that their time is up.  His inner circle should stop protecting him and start having a quiet honest word with him to look at handing over the reigns to someone or something new. He has to count his benign loans as the cost of his stewardship and leave with some dignity before things turn nasty.

What happens is that friends close ranks to support their friend. I'd like to think that if one of my friends was suffering any level of abuse that I'd stick up for them.
Looking at it as an outsider I'm not sure it can turn nastier..

Trying to stand back from the 'bearpit' choices offered, I'd suggest our chronic inability to develop local youngsters to first-team standard.
We won two promotions with a side packed with local players - and for a club our size what's the alternative? We can't compete with the money.

Under-18s won 5-0 at Lincoln....just saying.

Quoted from barralad

Yep..pretty reasonable actually. It amazes me still that people who are already anonymous won't put their heads above the parapet and argue their corner. You can spend a long time putting together posts only to see red (and green) markings but no development of the argument.
As I said last night if I thought fans are the biggest problem then any position held on an organisation trying to represent fans would be untenable but in the interests of debate here's a stab at a Devil's Advocate view.
Blundell Park used to be a fortress. Now, if I were the manager of a team coming to Town I'd tell my players to go all out for an early goal because any positivity generated by a decent start turns instantly to outright anger if an early goal is conceded. There's a guy who sits four rows in front of me (Not you Friskney!) and to my right who bellows Slade Out with the precision of an atomic clock every minute. Now I'd be the last person to claim that our new goalkeeper is likely to be a future international but the all too apparent nervousness in the crowd in defensive situations must transmit to the players and, as the situation has got worse mistakes are creeping into a defence that earlier in the season was pretty strong. The Morecambe game for me was a totally new experience. In 50 years of watching the Mariners I've never heard the players being booed back onto the pitch (and during that half a century I've witnessed plenty of first half performances that have been more meritorious of it than recent fare served up.). I was out in Cleethorpes with an ex-player last weekend and the conversation turned to the atmosphere at Blundell Park. He was quite clear that playing in front of a decent sized crowd coupled with concentration levels required mean that you do not pick up individuals comments during the game because of the level of background noise. He went on to say though that you do notice it when walking out at the start or after half time. I get the criticism of Slade but he spends half time trying to gee the players up to get back into the game. Said group of players then walk out to a crescendo of boos from their own fans. Go figure! Freedom of speech is a marvellous maxim- one which I can get Voltairesque about but with it comes a certain sense of realism and responsibility. Booing (or cheering!) are not reflex reactions. You have to consciously decide to do it which is a tiny step away from thinking "What am I trying to achieve by this action?" There will be people who say it doesn't make a difference which begs the question "Why do it then?"
There are an increasing number of people who are prepared to countenance the team getting hammered to hasten the end of the manager. When Newport's second goal went in someone behind me, unable to contain their excitement was heard to say "Yesss he must be gone now!" What the actual....
Last Saturday in the concourse under the stand at Colchester at half time I spoke to someone. The conversation went something like this. Me:- Well that was better wasn't it?" Him:- "A bit-but it shouldn't be enough to save him he's got to go" I didn't see them after Colchester equalised but I'm willing to bet there was relief on his face!
Now let's turn to Social Media (ironic really seeing as all of this is on a form of Social Media)..I flipping hate it. Back in the day if someone started spouting sh1te in a pub you had two realistic options 1. Punch them (OK maybe not quite realistic in my position) or 2. Walk away. Now it's in your face. I turned on my phone whilst sat in a cafe last Saturday looking for team news. I was surprised by the line up but a large group of people on Facebook in the badly misnamed GTFC Fans Group decided in an instant that it wasn't going to work. In most cases there were no elucidated reasons for these pronouncements but it's a feeding frenzy where anything (even slagging off the current players as a means to get at the manager) goes. These comments are by and large from people that you wouldn't come into contact with under any other circumstance.
It's got to the stage where fans are being called idiots (and worse) for continuing to support the team. To counteract that I'm fed up of seeing posts on Social Media along the lines of "I'm not going again until Slade is gone" I've been around long enough now to know that we have had far worse times than we are currently having. NO-ONE wants to see us back in the abyss and I'll concede that part of the problem is at the moment that that experience is still too raw and genuine fans are worried.
I've just read through what I've written and there are plenty of opportunities for people to drive buses through the gaps in my arguments. Let's have the debate and at least some acceptance that fans have some responsibility for their actions.
**Awaits arryarryarry's two line condemnation linking the whole post to a far worse scenario from the past**

A good and well thought out response Ian, you have highlighted some of the stuff like fans booing the players, there are many counter arguments why I feel the majority of our fans are 1st class. To counter your booing I offer up what McMenemy and others have said about BP, the difference being they gave us a team to believe in and the players that had belief in what they were doing. People boo to let the players/management and board know they aren't happy, it is up to them to correct what's wrong and the fans won't boo, I don't know anybody who just goes to boo for the sake of it, people are turning against whats going on at BP because they have had enough.

The money raised for op promotion and the support on the fishy for a member who was in a dark place, also the money that was raised for Matty & Richard for the Pontoon gates of honour. The away support and before that how our fans rallied behind the club to try and stave off relegation.

The work the trust has done is beyond anything that the club has done.

JF wouldn`t be such a problem if other points of view were taken on board he gets labelled a control freak which I tend to agree with. Now JF would probably argue against this and point out MP wanted Neil Woods against his wishes and it led to non league yet he carried the can? I think he tries his best but because he has zero knowledge of football and how it works other than he is a fan who can he turn to other than maybe RS?

Personally for what it`s worth if I was John and intended staying I would be getting Buckley round for dinner and begging him to become a Director so I could get the football knowledge and as a bonus I would getting a bloke who knew the club and area . I think the above is possibly pencilled in for RS at a later date?

I am of the opinion in JF`s mind the new ground is key and to him nothing else really matters if we can steer clear of relegation til the ground is confirmed.Hence Slade a renowned safe pair of hands got the Manager job with the remit keep us safe on a ltd budget.

The downside to the above IF I am correct is because the fans have not been told anything concrete just oddly timed statements the fanbase has become restless both with results and style of play.Then all the off field shenanigans on top it`s created the perfect storm for unrest.

A joint statement from the board with a clear short term plan and then long term vision would help all parties.Again here because we are talking new ground I can sympathise with the need for a bit of a cloak and dagger tactics from JF.

This Club needs to maintain a minimum 3k sth and average gate of 4k and the past 12 Months will have made that near impossible.We are now entering the GTFC head in the sand approach to ST sales and mark my words we will see an almighty drop on that front IF we carry on down the current path on and off the field.

Quoted from barralad

As a representative of a fans group I obviously couldn't (and do not) see the fans as "being the biggest problem" but I get increasingly frustrated on here that just because some people have a different opinion they are labelled as "part of the inner circle" or a "Fenty Fan".
When people are asking for a debate then the least they can do is accept that most if not all debates have two sides to them.
The survey results thus far are covering a huge range of opinions and each needs treating on its merits if we are to get close to making the right decisions about the way forward.
Oh and judging by the results of this poll so far it's a bloody big inner circle!!

There are two sides to every story Ian,

Some of us are called bullies or keyboard warriors because we express our view,

Anyway what is wrong with being called a Fenty Fan ?

If they like him and think he is doing a good job then they could  well be a fan of his,

I think debate is good from both sides even though sometimes I might get carried away a bit (its called passion )

Its better than saying nothing than just putting a X against the post.

Just my opinion.

Quoted from barralad

Yep..pretty reasonable actually. It amazes me still that people who are already anonymous won't put their heads above the parapet and argue their corner. You can spend a long time putting together posts only to see red (and green) markings but no development of the argument.
As I said last night if I thought fans are the biggest problem then any position held on an organisation trying to represent fans would be untenable but in the interests of debate here's a stab at a Devil's Advocate view.
Blundell Park used to be a fortress. Now, if I were the manager of a team coming to Town I'd tell my players to go all out for an early goal because any positivity generated by a decent start turns instantly to outright anger if an early goal is conceded. There's a guy who sits four rows in front of me (Not you Friskney!) and to my right who bellows Slade Out with the precision of an atomic clock every minute. Now I'd be the last person to claim that our new goalkeeper is likely to be a future international but the all too apparent nervousness in the crowd in defensive situations must transmit to the players and, as the situation has got worse mistakes are creeping into a defence that earlier in the season was pretty strong. The Morecambe game for me was a totally new experience. In 50 years of watching the Mariners I've never heard the players being booed back onto the pitch (and during that half a century I've witnessed plenty of first half performances that have been more meritorious of it than recent fare served up.). I was out in Cleethorpes with an ex-player last weekend and the conversation turned to the atmosphere at Blundell Park. He was quite clear that playing in front of a decent sized crowd coupled with concentration levels required mean that you do not pick up individuals comments during the game because of the level of background noise. He went on to say though that you do notice it when walking out at the start or after half time. I get the criticism of Slade but he spends half time trying to gee the players up to get back into the game. Said group of players then walk out to a crescendo of boos from their own fans. Go figure! Freedom of speech is a marvellous maxim- one which I can get Voltairesque about but with it comes a certain sense of realism and responsibility. Booing (or cheering!) are not reflex reactions. You have to consciously decide to do it which is a tiny step away from thinking "What am I trying to achieve by this action?" There will be people who say it doesn't make a difference which begs the question "Why do it then?"
There are an increasing number of people who are prepared to countenance the team getting hammered to hasten the end of the manager. When Newport's second goal went in someone behind me, unable to contain their excitement was heard to say "Yesss he must be gone now!" What the actual....
Last Saturday in the concourse under the stand at Colchester at half time I spoke to someone. The conversation went something like this. Me:- Well that was better wasn't it?" Him:- "A bit-but it shouldn't be enough to save him he's got to go" I didn't see them after Colchester equalised but I'm willing to bet there was relief on his face!
Now let's turn to Social Media (ironic really seeing as all of this is on a form of Social Media)..I flipping hate it. Back in the day if someone started spouting sh1te in a pub you had two realistic options 1. Punch them (OK maybe not quite realistic in my position) or 2. Walk away. Now it's in your face. I turned on my phone whilst sat in a cafe last Saturday looking for team news. I was surprised by the line up but a large group of people on Facebook in the badly misnamed GTFC Fans Group decided in an instant that it wasn't going to work. In most cases there were no elucidated reasons for these pronouncements but it's a feeding frenzy where anything (even slagging off the current players as a means to get at the manager) goes. These comments are by and large from people that you wouldn't come into contact with under any other circumstance.
It's got to the stage where fans are being called idiots (and worse) for continuing to support the team. To counteract that I'm fed up of seeing posts on Social Media along the lines of "I'm not going again until Slade is gone" I've been around long enough now to know that we have had far worse times than we are currently having. NO-ONE wants to see us back in the abyss and I'll concede that part of the problem is at the moment that that experience is still too raw and genuine fans are worried.
I've just read through what I've written and there are plenty of opportunities for people to drive buses through the gaps in my arguments. Let's have the debate and at least some acceptance that fans have some responsibility for their actions.
**Awaits arryarryarry's two line condemnation linking the whole post to a far worse scenario from the past**

Thank you for opening a debate as a devil's advocate Barra.

It depends whether you are looking from a micro or macro point of view. Short or long term? Do you answer the thread question looking at it from a microcosm of the last few games where fans are at the end of the tether or do you look further back and admire OP or the support that the fans gave the club through non-league?

It's also not even a chicken and egg situation. The fans are at the receiving end of every decision made at the club good or bad. They are powerless. All they are left with is the decision whether to go to games or not. I actually think thousands have been to the bottom of the well in patience for JF over the years and they're not prepared to accept what's on offer or whatever non-vision the club has for the future. They want change. They don't want to feed or help the status quo as they're simply sick of it. It's always like this towards the end of a long era in tenureship of any operation.

You use the term "genuine fans". What is a genuine fan? This is part of the problem. It's a line that the club trots out. When are they going to understand that there's thousands upon thousands of disaffected GTFC fans out there. Some might not have been for ten years, some may only go to a couple of games a year but they are still GTFC fans. They do not need to be told they are not genuine fans. They are genuine GTFC fans. You ask them who they support and they'll say "Grimsby". They just need tempting back and that needs PR and marketing skills, finding a way to ensure the product on the pitch is entertaining and the matchday experience is pleasurable. It's a big ask and way beyond the current regime as they haven't got the cash or nous, so something radical needs to change.

It's not been long ago that I've been very proud of GTFC fans, it's been decades ago since I've been proud of any GTFC board and just as long that I've been proud of GTFC on the playing side as a Football League club..

To vote for fans being the main problem at GTFC is extremely harsh in my opinion and very short sighted..

Quoted from barralad

Yep..pretty reasonable actually. It amazes me still that people who are already anonymous won't put their heads above the parapet and argue their corner. You can spend a long time putting together posts only to see red (and green) markings but no development of the argument.
As I said last night if I thought fans are the biggest problem then any position held on an organisation trying to represent fans would be untenable but in the interests of debate here's a stab at a Devil's Advocate view.
Blundell Park used to be a fortress. Now, if I were the manager of a team coming to Town I'd tell my players to go all out for an early goal because any positivity generated by a decent start turns instantly to outright anger if an early goal is conceded. There's a guy who sits four rows in front of me (Not you Friskney!) and to my right who bellows Slade Out with the precision of an atomic clock every minute. Now I'd be the last person to claim that our new goalkeeper is likely to be a future international but the all too apparent nervousness in the crowd in defensive situations must transmit to the players and, as the situation has got worse mistakes are creeping into a defence that earlier in the season was pretty strong. The Morecambe game for me was a totally new experience. In 50 years of watching the Mariners I've never heard the players being booed back onto the pitch (and during that half a century I've witnessed plenty of first half performances that have been more meritorious of it than recent fare served up.). I was out in Cleethorpes with an ex-player last weekend and the conversation turned to the atmosphere at Blundell Park. He was quite clear that playing in front of a decent sized crowd coupled with concentration levels required mean that you do not pick up individuals comments during the game because of the level of background noise. He went on to say though that you do notice it when walking out at the start or after half time. I get the criticism of Slade but he spends half time trying to gee the players up to get back into the game. Said group of players then walk out to a crescendo of boos from their own fans. Go figure! Freedom of speech is a marvellous maxim- one which I can get Voltairesque about but with it comes a certain sense of realism and responsibility. Booing (or cheering!) are not reflex reactions. You have to consciously decide to do it which is a tiny step away from thinking "What am I trying to achieve by this action?" There will be people who say it doesn't make a difference which begs the question "Why do it then?"
There are an increasing number of people who are prepared to countenance the team getting hammered to hasten the end of the manager. When Newport's second goal went in someone behind me, unable to contain their excitement was heard to say "Yesss he must be gone now!" What the actual....
Last Saturday in the concourse under the stand at Colchester at half time I spoke to someone. The conversation went something like this. Me:- Well that was better wasn't it?" Him:- "A bit-but it shouldn't be enough to save him he's got to go" I didn't see them after Colchester equalised but I'm willing to bet there was relief on his face!
Now let's turn to Social Media (ironic really seeing as all of this is on a form of Social Media)..I flipping hate it. Back in the day if someone started spouting sh1te in a pub you had two realistic options 1. Punch them (OK maybe not quite realistic in my position) or 2. Walk away. Now it's in your face. I turned on my phone whilst sat in a cafe last Saturday looking for team news. I was surprised by the line up but a large group of people on Facebook in the badly misnamed GTFC Fans Group decided in an instant that it wasn't going to work. In most cases there were no elucidated reasons for these pronouncements but it's a feeding frenzy where anything (even slagging off the current players as a means to get at the manager) goes. These comments are by and large from people that you wouldn't come into contact with under any other circumstance.
It's got to the stage where fans are being called idiots (and worse) for continuing to support the team. To counteract that I'm fed up of seeing posts on Social Media along the lines of "I'm not going again until Slade is gone" I've been around long enough now to know that we have had far worse times than we are currently having. NO-ONE wants to see us back in the abyss and I'll concede that part of the problem is at the moment that that experience is still too raw and genuine fans are worried.
I've just read through what I've written and there are plenty of opportunities for people to drive buses through the gaps in my arguments. Let's have the debate and at least some acceptance that fans have some responsibility for their actions.
**Awaits arryarryarry's two line condemnation linking the whole post to a far worse scenario from the past**

A remarkably brave post and to be commended barralad once again sticks his head above the parapet and deserves a better response than Slade Out.I have seen the same social media posts on the same sites and he is correct regarding the content.

The point he makes about not going again til Slade has gone could easily be levelled at myself as I have said words to that effect. Now I don`t and never have liked Slade`s brand of football and on that basis never renewed my ST for August.However like most fans before a ball is kicked im hoping Town will romp the league and having gone to Chesterfield first up I was on social media proclaiming Town the Div 2 Champions in waiting.A week later and pretty much ever since it`s been Sladeball as I remember it warts and all and I don`t like what I see. Now if I had been told (as this is my suspicion) Town have brought in RS to stabilise the Club at League 2 level whilst we seek the move to a new ground I would under sufferance have renewed my ST and put up with Sladeball albeit moaned lots.

To counter barralad what I can`t stand is being told I should blindly and willingly hand over my hard earned cash no matter what I get served up. No I am not having that at all I don`t expect Town to win every game but I do expect maximum effort from players and management in defeat.You don`t have to be Pele to get the crowd behind you at BP and Summerfield epitomises what I and many more will pay £20 to support a trier a guy with limited ability who I know gives his best to send me home happy.Then the Manager he has been around the block he knows his style with good results was unpopular at Gy last time he also knows a lot of people me included have a very low opinion of him after the Cardiff debacle. He will not yield an inch it`s his way to do what he does and he shrugs the shoulders take it or leave it this is a good trait in a lot of ways and possibly his strength but it`s also his major flaw.RS had good players well suited to his style last time around but he doesn`t have a Lump a Reddy or a giant backline to dominate both boxes nor anyone capable of delivering some quality ball.All I see is the team fail repeat fail repeat for 90 mins and it`s ugly and boring the only two times the team have got the ball down I have seen they scored 3 times and picked up maximum points repeat that and people will come Slade or not.

Genuine fan is another point which Bigdog makes WTF is a genuine fan?

Is it the guy who blindly follows his team to Colchester in hope of the team arresting an alarming run of results and getting back to winning ways because he only lives for that NEXT 90 mins?

Is it the guy who has done the above for decades but been broken by the lack of progress and now feels the only course of action is to stay away in the hope he can make a difference via his non attendance?

Neither of the above are the majority the majority are the other 2500 who turn up and when Town win all is well when they lose the world will end.

Town have a fanbase of around 4-5k regular fans and upto 10k floating fans nothing other than topping the Prem will keep them all happy but you can do a lot more to harnass and build up that 5k.Recent events are not the right way of going about it.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Genuine fan is another point which Bigdog makes WTF is a genuine fan?

Is it the guy who blindly follows his team to Colchester in hope of the team arresting an alarming run of results and getting back to winning ways because he only lives for that NEXT 90 mins?

Is it the guy who has done the above for decades but been broken by the lack of progress and now feels the only course of action is to stay away in the hope he can make a difference via his non attendance?

Neither of the above are the majority the majority are the other 2500 who turn up and when Town win all is well when they lose the world will end.

Town have a fanbase of around 4-5k regular fans and upto 10k floating fans nothing other than topping the Prem will keep them all happy but you can do a lot more to harnass and build up that 5k.Recent events are not the right way of going about it.

If you're looking at the present core current view then yes.

But taking a much wider and longer term view then the vast majority is the other 27k that went to Wembley in 98, the other 15k who went to Liverpool in the FA Cup, the other 4k that went to Sheff Wed in the FA Cup, the other 12k that went to the Sheff Utd 4-0 game and plenty of other home games around that period, the other 12k that went to the play-off final. In every one of those games and plenty of others, there were fans there singing like their lives depended on it, celebrating like their hearts were gonna burst. The majority have been lost along the way. We have fallen so far behind other clubs that had similar support to ours back in the day.

Too much analysing and finger pointing about how we got to where we are now rather that blue sky thinking and radical action to move things forward to a better future for all Town fans, not just the current core but also the one that may have fallen out of love with the club but still carry it around hidden somewhere deep in their hearts..

Brighton never had 30k crowds, Donny barely mustered 2k, we were a Reading, a Huddersfield, a Bournemouth. I'm not living in the past, I'm comparing different clubs paths to the present day. Somewhere it's gone very wrong for us over a very long and sustained period of time and £2m was never enough for us to match the stride of so many of our peers.

Yes we need to stay up, definitely. But in the grand scheme of things does it really matter if we sign another left back before the end of the month or yet another striker? We should find the necessary points from somewhere. If we stay in this League this season, there's some massive, bigger questions to ask and answer or do we all shrug our shoulders, accept our lot and go like sheep to game after game and slog through season after mind numbing, brain mashing season.. or even worse join the majority and give up..

Whatever anybody's opinion, all football fans, GTFC or otherwise, have a right to an opinion on their club. My biggest gripe is the lack of humility from the club and the refusal to accept that mistakes have been made. If the club hadn't made mistakes, we might be Bournemouth or Burnley, instead we are falling behind the likes of Lincoln & Accrington. The underlying impression I get is that we are so busy standing still, we have forgotten what progress is.

Quoted from barralad

Yep..pretty reasonable actually. It amazes me still that people who are already anonymous won't put their heads above the parapet and argue their corner. You can spend a long time putting together posts only to see red (and green) markings but no development of the argument.
As I said last night if I thought fans are the biggest problem then any position held on an organisation trying to represent fans would be untenable but in the interests of debate here's a stab at a Devil's Advocate view.
Blundell Park used to be a fortress. Now, if I were the manager of a team coming to Town I'd tell my players to go all out for an early goal because any positivity generated by a decent start turns instantly to outright anger if an early goal is conceded. There's a guy who sits four rows in front of me (Not you Friskney!) and to my right who bellows Slade Out with the precision of an atomic clock every minute. Now I'd be the last person to claim that our new goalkeeper is likely to be a future international but the all too apparent nervousness in the crowd in defensive situations must transmit to the players and, as the situation has got worse mistakes are creeping into a defence that earlier in the season was pretty strong. The Morecambe game for me was a totally new experience. In 50 years of watching the Mariners I've never heard the players being booed back onto the pitch (and during that half a century I've witnessed plenty of first half performances that have been more meritorious of it than recent fare served up.). I was out in Cleethorpes with an ex-player last weekend and the conversation turned to the atmosphere at Blundell Park. He was quite clear that playing in front of a decent sized crowd coupled with concentration levels required mean that you do not pick up individuals comments during the game because of the level of background noise. He went on to say though that you do notice it when walking out at the start or after half time. I get the criticism of Slade but he spends half time trying to gee the players up to get back into the game. Said group of players then walk out to a crescendo of boos from their own fans. Go figure! Freedom of speech is a marvellous maxim- one which I can get Voltairesque about but with it comes a certain sense of realism and responsibility. Booing (or cheering!) are not reflex reactions. You have to consciously decide to do it which is a tiny step away from thinking "What am I trying to achieve by this action?" There will be people who say it doesn't make a difference which begs the question "Why do it then?"
There are an increasing number of people who are prepared to countenance the team getting hammered to hasten the end of the manager. When Newport's second goal went in someone behind me, unable to contain their excitement was heard to say "Yesss he must be gone now!" What the actual....
Last Saturday in the concourse under the stand at Colchester at half time I spoke to someone. The conversation went something like this. Me:- Well that was better wasn't it?" Him:- "A bit-but it shouldn't be enough to save him he's got to go" I didn't see them after Colchester equalised but I'm willing to bet there was relief on his face!
Now let's turn to Social Media (ironic really seeing as all of this is on a form of Social Media)..I flipping hate it. Back in the day if someone started spouting sh1te in a pub you had two realistic options 1. Punch them (OK maybe not quite realistic in my position) or 2. Walk away. Now it's in your face. I turned on my phone whilst sat in a cafe last Saturday looking for team news. I was surprised by the line up but a large group of people on Facebook in the badly misnamed GTFC Fans Group decided in an instant that it wasn't going to work. In most cases there were no elucidated reasons for these pronouncements but it's a feeding frenzy where anything (even slagging off the current players as a means to get at the manager) goes. These comments are by and large from people that you wouldn't come into contact with under any other circumstance.
It's got to the stage where fans are being called idiots (and worse) for continuing to support the team. To counteract that I'm fed up of seeing posts on Social Media along the lines of "I'm not going again until Slade is gone" I've been around long enough now to know that we have had far worse times than we are currently having. NO-ONE wants to see us back in the abyss and I'll concede that part of the problem is at the moment that that experience is still too raw and genuine fans are worried.
I've just read through what I've written and there are plenty of opportunities for people to drive buses through the gaps in my arguments. Let's have the debate and at least some acceptance that fans have some responsibility for their actions.
**Awaits arryarryarry's two line condemnation linking the whole post to a far worse scenario from the past**

I certainly don't think it helps getting at the players in the ground, I try my best to be encouraging, I was brought up with "hard luck" and "keep going" when a player tried something that didn't come off, there's a lot of groaning and moaning now. I also think people who contact the players to slag them off on twitter are idiots as well.

I think the general atmosphere in the ground is so sour because of the feeling about the manager and the board. The relationship is so broken that the slightest hint of a poor performance sets people off. I don't see how it can be fixed by the current regime, instead of trying to fix it they've continued to blame fans. To improve our situation we need a set of aims we can rally round and a board we can trust.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

I certainly don't think it helps getting at the players in the ground, I try my best to be encouraging, I was brought up with "hard luck" and "keep going" when a player tried something that didn't come off, there's a lot of groaning and moaning now. I also think people who contact the players to slag them off on twitter are idiots as well.

I think the general atmosphere in the ground is so sour because of the feeling about the manager and the board. The relationship is so broken that the slightest hint of a poor performance sets people off. I don't see how it can be fixed by the current regime, instead of trying to fix it they've continued to blame fans. To improve our situation we need a set of aims we can rally round and a board we can trust.

I agree. I cannot and will not ever find it acceptable for a Director of GTFC to tell a fan to 'Shut up' at an event such as a Fans Forum. Let's be right about this - the club instigated the Forum for whatever reason and the board & the manager, on that night, managed to plumb the depths of how not to treat people - especially paying customers.

Can anyone tell me (apologies i know i should know) is JF an MP or just a councillor?  And how does this affect his duties at board room level.  I was just thinking if his attention is not purely GTFC how can he put all his time and effort i to Town.

He is the councillor for Humberston and New Waltham.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I agree. I cannot and will not ever find it acceptable for a Director of GTFC to tell a fan to 'Shut up' at an event such as a Fans Forum. Let's be right about this - the club instigated the Forum for whatever reason and the board & the manager, on that night, managed to plumb the depths of how not to treat people - especially paying customers.

In the ongoing interest of balance.....what even if you've been asked a question and are trying to answer it but the questioner keeps on talking?
Let me be clear. It isnt  a device I'd consider using (perhaps that is why I dont stick my head above the parapet in terms of public speaking) and it seemed to worsen an already tense situation but there were audible cries from the audience for Mr Marley to be allowed to answer the question at the same time..

In situations like that Ian, I would expect an experienced business person to allow the 'storm' to blow out without resorting to what happened. I know you're trying to bring balance but, in reality, the board and the manager did themselves very few favours on that evening. That said, until fairly late on, I think most were reasonably placated and that merely underlines how badly handled the last half hour was.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

In situations like that Ian, I would expect an experienced business person to allow the 'storm' to blow out without resorting to what happened. I know you're trying to bring balance but, in reality, the board and the manager did themselves very few favours on that evening. That said, until fairly late on, I think most were reasonably placated and that merely underlines how badly handled the last half hour was.

My mind could well be playing tricks now but I thought the Mr Marley exchange was well before 9 p.m.
Everything after the official finish left me bemused embarrassed and wishing I had left when I originally intended to.

I seem to remember Matt Dean being constantly, and aggressively over-spoken by the loudmouth in the crowd (possibly by Slade too) yet he stayed calm. And professional.

Quoted from barralad

In the ongoing interest of balance.....what even if you've been asked a question and are trying to answer it but the questioner keeps on talking?
Let me be clear. It isnt  a device I'd consider using (perhaps that is why I dont stick my head above the parapet in terms of public speaking) and it seemed to worsen an already tense situation but there were audible cries from the audience for Mr Marley to be allowed to answer the question at the same time..

Marley wasn't in the pub shouting down his mates, he is a director and representing the club, he was addressing the clubs customers. I find any sort of defence of him quite amusing as his direct line about potential investors being put off as "if you don't believe me, you must be calling me a liar" is a statement that he can handle public speaking and is further proof of his arrogance.

It's his choice to not name the people he approached but for Matt Dean doing the same he got crucified by the club, hypocrisy abound.

As far as Blundell Park goes I have not seen a decent atmosphere by home fans for years.

GTFC has always had a lack of ambition highlighted by Lennie Lawrence when he was last manager here.

He said this club and it's directors suffered from small club mentality and to be fair he hit the nail absolutely fair and square on the head.

We had a golden opportunity to drag this club into the twenty-first century in 98 on the back of undoubtedly one the greatest seasons in the clubs history.

Scunny and Lincoln have proved get the right people in the crowds will come back and I have no doubt they will both get a new stadium built before we do.  

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

As far as Blundell Park goes I have not seen a decent atmosphere by home fans for years.

GTFC has always had a lack of ambition highlighted by Lennie Lawrence when he was last manager here.

He said this club and it's directors suffered from small club mentality and to be fair he hit the nail absolutely fair and square on the head.

We had a golden opportunity to drag this club into the twenty-first century in 98 on the back of undoubtedly one the greatest seasons in the clubs history.

Scunny and Lincoln have proved get the right people in the crowds will come back and I have no doubt they will both get a new stadium built before we do.  

Easy for Lawrence to say even when the club were spending £14k per week on the Chinese International.

Yes he wanted the board to invest but he could spend money for England!

Quoted from Bigdog

If you're looking at the present core current view then yes.

But taking a much wider and longer term view then the vast majority is the other 27k that went to Wembley in 98, the other 15k who went to Liverpool in the FA Cup, the other 4k that went to Sheff Wed in the FA Cup, the other 12k that went to the Sheff Utd 4-0 game and plenty of other home games around that period, the other 12k that went to the play-off final. In every one of those games and plenty of others, there were fans there singing like their lives depended on it, celebrating like their hearts were gonna burst. The majority have been lost along the way. We have fallen so far behind other clubs that had similar support to ours back in the day.

Too much analysing and finger pointing about how we got to where we are now rather that blue sky thinking and radical action to move things forward to a better future for all Town fans, not just the current core but also the one that may have fallen out of love with the club but still carry it around hidden somewhere deep in their hearts..

Brighton never had 30k crowds, Donny barely mustered 2k, we were a Reading, a Huddersfield, a Bournemouth. I'm not living in the past, I'm comparing different clubs paths to the present day. Somewhere it's gone very wrong for us over a very long and sustained period of time and £2m was never enough for us to match the stride of so many of our peers.

Yes we need to stay up, definitely. But in the grand scheme of things does it really matter if we sign another left back before the end of the month or yet another striker? We should find the necessary points from somewhere. If we stay in this League this season, there's some massive, bigger questions to ask and answer or do we all shrug our shoulders, accept our lot and go like sheep to game after game and slog through season after mind numbing, brain mashing season.. or even worse join the majority and give up..

I agree with most of what you say, but all those towns you list are much bigger than Grimsby. Probably by a factor of 2 or more.

Quoted from Cloudy

Easy for Lawrence to say even when the club were spending £14k per week on the Chinese International.

Yes he wanted the board to invest but he could spend money for England!

The club that we beat at Wembley that day were AFC Bournemouth .....................I rest my case m'lord.

Quoted from barralad

My mind could well be playing tricks now but I thought the Mr Marley exchange was well before 9 p.m.
Everything after the official finish left me bemused embarrassed and wishing I had left when I originally intended to.

I would say the Marley outburst was around 8.45pm it was enough to get me and several others out their chairs with a view to leaving in disgust.Even after that I was still of the mind the forum had gone quite well for RS and very well for JF in particular and he had done a sterling job in damping down the flames.At that point Marley aside the only thing that had irked me was Slade`s time wasting at the start with his ludicrous charts.The clock got round to 9.30pm and the rage had been fuelled once and for all and those who earlier had squealed about perceived bullying set about a hapless MD like a pack of rabid dogs and acted out bullying for all to see.You add that to the Marley outburst and see the type of person running this football club and the type of person managing the team and it`s not really such a surprise were up sh1t creek without a paddle.

Maybe there should have been an option to vote for "all of the above".

Isn't it arguable, that the issues at GTFC is a culmination of a number of things, even things in addition to the options in this poll.

The Fans
Yeah the issue is some fans. Always will be even in the good times. Not all but some.

The Manager
Yeah for sure a big part of the issue.

The Board
Again, yes the board will be at fault for some of the issues. But, like it or not we wouldn't be here now if JF hadn't of supported the club.

Lack of Investors
Clearly we do not have access to anybody in our area, or further afield, that wants to invest in our  football club. That is why we are stuck with John Fenty as our financial crutch.

The Facility
Our lack of a decent stadium and probably a decent training facility, is certainly a massive factor. Players will consider all of this when making choices. Ask Lincoln, who are on route to provideding better training facilities. The stadium facility also prevents us from taking advantage of other revenue streams that can be available to football clubs.

Location
Like it or not, some players won't want to live in the Grimsby area, even though there are some really nice locations on our doorstep. It is a long way from anywhere deemed to be popular places to reside. Being on the coast, it is also a hell of our journey to get here.

I could go on. Sadly we are what we are. A very small football club, struggling, with supporters that have to lap up and enjoy an highs when they seldom come along. Suffering from a big list of things that limit us.

Quoted from 120790

Maybe there should have been an option to vote for "all of the above".

Isn't it arguable, that the issues at GTFC is a culmination of a number of things, even things in addition to the options in this poll.

The Fans
Yeah the issue is some fans. Always will be even in the good times. Not all but some.

The Manager
Yeah for sure a big part of the issue.

The Board
Again, yes the board will be at fault for some of the issues. But, like it or not we wouldn't be here now if JF hadn't of supported the club.

Lack of Investors
Clearly we do not have access to anybody in our area, or further afield, that wants to invest in our  football club. That is why we are stuck with John Fenty as our financial crutch.

The Facility
Our lack of a decent stadium and probably a decent training facility, is certainly a massive factor. Players will consider all of this when making choices. Ask Lincoln, who are on route to provideding better training facilities. The stadium facility also prevents us from taking advantage of other revenue streams that can be available to football clubs.

Location
Like it or not, some players won't want to live in the Grimsby area, even though there are some really nice locations on our doorstep. It is a long way from anywhere deemed to be popular places to reside. Being on the coast, it is also a hell of our journey to get here.

I could go on. Sadly we are what we are. A very small football club, struggling, with supporters that have to lap up and enjoy an highs when they seldom come along. Suffering from a big list of things that limit us.

I know the games changed and so have times but an awful lot of former Town players have settled in this area when their careers have finished who were not local lads.To name a few Dave Boylen,Matt Tees,Steve Sherwood,Gary Childs,Gary Croft,John McDermott and Tony Gallimore

I think the big problem is that it has got very personal.   Various board members blaming fans for everything under the sun that happens at the club is not on. One of the benefits of following a small club in a small town was the tight knit relationship between fans and club. Our whole male side of the family used to meet in the Constitutional ave corner. Our expectations were low but we always had a good time. We need to get back to this.

Quoted from realist

I think the big problem is that it has got very personal.   Various board members blaming fans for everything under the sun that happens at the club is not on. One of the benefits of following a small club in a small town was the tight knit relationship between fans and club. Our whole male side of the family used to meet in the Constitutional ave corner. Our expectations were low but we always had a good time. We need to get back to this.

You make a good point and that`s why when the fans are on side they give partisan backing and it`s frustrating that the Club can`t seem to galvanize and harness that support more regularly.One day hopefully soon we will get it right at GY and then we will see what can happen the area is big enough to throw up gates in excess of 10k on a regular basis but no-one has seen it since the early 80s .I would love to see BP sold out week in week out til she bows out and exits stage left but unless the Club but the work in with the public it won`t happen.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

You make a good point and that`s why when the fans are on side they give partisan backing and it`s frustrating that the Club can`t seem to galvanize and harness that support more regularly.One day hopefully soon we will get it right at GY and then we will see what can happen the area is big enough to throw up gates in excess of 10k on a regular basis but no-one has seen it since the early 80s .I would love to see BP sold out week in week out til she bows out and exits stage left but unless the Club but the work in with the public it won`t happen.

It really doesn't help when our season ticket prices are at a similar level to Championship clubs like Barnsley & Hull. The predicted price rise for next year will make people think twice, even three times, especially when you consider that prices have fallen at many clubs this year.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

It really doesn't help when our season ticket prices are at a similar level to Championship clubs like Barnsley & Hull. The predicted price rise for next year will make people think twice, even three times, especially when you consider that prices have fallen at many clubs this year.

Some Premier League teams have cheaper season tickets than us. Teams in the top 2 divisions get a lot more cash than we do and can afford to sell ST's cheaper as ticket sales are not their main source of income. Hull will still be receiving parachute payments. We don't have that luxury.

It won't be the price that puts me off next season.

Quoted from 120790

Maybe there should have been an option to vote for "all of the above".

Isn't it arguable, that the issues at GTFC is a culmination of a number of things, even things in addition to the options in this poll.

The Fans
Yeah the issue is some fans. Always will be even in the good times. Not all but some.

The Manager
Yeah for sure a big part of the issue.

The Board
Again, yes the board will be at fault for some of the issues. But, like it or not we wouldn't be here now if JF hadn't of supported the club.

Lack of Investors
Clearly we do not have access to anybody in our area, or further afield, that wants to invest in our  football club. That is why we are stuck with John Fenty as our financial crutch.

The Facility
Our lack of a decent stadium and probably a decent training facility, is certainly a massive factor. Players will consider all of this when making choices. Ask Lincoln, who are on route to provideding better training facilities. The stadium facility also prevents us from taking advantage of other revenue streams that can be available to football clubs.

Location
Like it or not, some players won't want to live in the Grimsby area, even though there are some really nice locations on our doorstep. It is a long way from anywhere deemed to be popular places to reside. Being on the coast, it is also a hell of our journey to get here.

I could go on. Sadly we are what we are. A very small football club, struggling, with supporters that have to lap up and enjoy an highs when they seldom come along. Suffering from a big list of things that limit us.

We are not a very small football club though are we? That is the whole point. Morecombe, Fleetwood, Accrington,Yeovil Forest Green, Burton are very small clubs, some (most) of them punching above their weight.

We are hardly a sleeping giant but we should be much better than we are now. Even in the midst of this ghastly period of Fentyism we still get crowds a lot of clubs would envy - and that is after 15 or more years of sustained failure.

Top half of league one is where we should be at, if we had any sort of reasonable board. An ambitious board, with the investment to match and a new stadium (or a revamped present one) would be aiming for the Championship.

We have to get a vision, investment and get on with it!  

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

We are not a very small football club though are we? That is the whole point. Morecombe, Fleetwood, Accrington,Yeovil Forest Green, Burton are very small clubs, some (most) of them punching above their weight.

We are hardly a sleeping giant but we should be much better than we are now. Even in the midst of this ghastly period of Fentyism we still get crowds a lot of clubs would envy - and that is after 15 or more years of sustained failure.

Top half of league one is where we should be at, if we had any sort of reasonable board. An ambitious board, with the investment to match and a new stadium (or a revamped present one) would be aiming for the Championship.

We have to get a vision, investment and get on with it!  

Nearly two years ago, when we got promoted, Lincoln were envious of us. Two years on, the boot is on the other foot - reason? Lack of ambition, mission accomplished etc. You could almost accept the previous 10 - 12 years had we used the momentum created by promotion, but once again, we're looking down not up. It's pretty pathetic when you think about it.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Nearly two years ago, when we got promoted, Lincoln were envious of us. Two years on, the boot is on the other foot - reason? Lack of ambition, mission accomplished etc. You could almost accept the previous 10 - 12 years had we used the momentum created by promotion, but once again, we're looking down not up. It's pretty pathetic when you think about it.

Had interesting conversation in pub last night with Lincoln fans who are wetting themselves over drawing Chelsea Yoofs in Checkatwat trophy and seeing their first ever trip to Wembley within a cats whisker ( to be fair cannot blame as that first trip v Bournemouth was something very special).

Anyway we all know Lee Frecklington’s dad very well and he confirmed that before Lee signed the Crowley’s confirmed they were in Lincoln for the long haul, confirmed by another mate who has his up for sale at £500K and who should come and view but Danny Cowley, meaning he is moving out of accommodation paid for by the club. Also as their “success” continues the South African money men are agreeing to pump more money into the club. I expect their season ticket sales next year will exceed this years 6000 plus.

This means firstly, that my life in Lincoln could be a miserable one football wise for the foreseeable future but secondly, that football fortunes can change very quickly as not long ago under Chris Moyes many of their fans had given up on the club. So let’s hope our situation improves just as dramatically.

Final comment is that I have noticed since Moyes replaced Macca Alfretons fortunes appear to have improved “...its a funny old game”

It's all about getting the right manager at the end of the day. Wins and success make for a much happier camp.

I think the status of our club has changed and we need to accept that. We are a small time club in a small town that is going nowhere. Look around the non league now and there are plenty of clubs who you wouldn't have dreamt would be out of the league a few years ago now look to be there permanently.  I fear we have had our time, I wish I had enjoyed it more when I could.
Football clubs need a very rich benefactor to improve, not one that drip feeds just enough to keep the administrators away

Quoted from realist

I think the status of our club has changed and we need to accept that. We are a small time club in a small town that is going nowhere. Look around the non league now and there are plenty of clubs who you wouldn't have dreamt would be out of the league a few years ago now look to be there permanently.  I fear we have had our time, I wish I had enjoyed it more when I could.
Football clubs need a very rich benefactor to improve, not one that drip feeds just enough to keep the administrators away

We are not in a small town! There are 120,000 within spitting distance from BP. Christ on a bike with that attitude we are never going to get anywhere are we? You can be a "realist" without being totally pessimistic.

Where is the vision, the drive, the desire to put us back where we belong? I feel like having a Davey Boylen type gee up to some on here and in the boardroom!

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

We are not in a small town! There are 120,000 within spitting distance from BP. Christ on a bike with that attitude we are never going to get anywhere are we? You can be a "realist" without being totally pessimistic.

Where is the vision, the drive, the desire to put us back where we belong? I feel like having a Davey Boylen type gee up to some on here and in the boardroom!

The NEL pop is around 158,000. But people use clubs like Barnsely, Doncaster, Bournemouth, Reading as benchmarks as to where we should be. All have bigger populations in terms of catchment. We used to be a bigger club than all of them. They've got better at harnessing their resources. We've at best stood still and when we were moving forward (growth in attendances up to last season) the ruling regime go and intercourse it up.

Quoted from realist

I think the status of our club has changed and we need to accept that. We are a small time club in a small town that is going nowhere. Look around the non league now and there are plenty of clubs who you wouldn't have dreamt would be out of the league a few years ago now look to be there permanently.  I fear we have had our time, I wish I had enjoyed it more when I could.
Football clubs need a very rich benefactor to improve, not one that drip feeds just enough to keep the administrators away

Scunthorpe is smaller or not far off us population wise, and they are in the top 5 of league one, it's down to ambition, drive and determination, we on the other side have is abject failure and man who seems to alienate anybody with cash. People who believe we are small time club in a small town need to get out of their shed and look around at the smaller clubs doing far better than us.

Quoted from 120790

Maybe there should have been an option to vote for "all of the above".

Isn't it arguable, that the issues at GTFC is a culmination of a number of things, even things in addition to the options in this poll.

The Fans
Yeah the issue is some fans. Always will be even in the good times. Not all but some.

The Manager
Yeah for sure a big part of the issue.

The Board
Again, yes the board will be at fault for some of the issues. But, like it or not we wouldn't be here now if JF hadn't of supported the club.

Lack of Investors
Clearly we do not have access to anybody in our area, or further afield, that wants to invest in our  football club. That is why we are stuck with John Fenty as our financial crutch.

The Facility
Our lack of a decent stadium and probably a decent training facility, is certainly a massive factor. Players will consider all of this when making choices. Ask Lincoln, who are on route to provideding better training facilities. The stadium facility also prevents us from taking advantage of other revenue streams that can be available to football clubs.

Location
Like it or not, some players won't want to live in the Grimsby area, even though there are some really nice locations on our doorstep. It is a long way from anywhere deemed to be popular places to reside. Being on the coast, it is also a hell of our journey to get here.

I could go on. Sadly we are what we are. A very small football club, struggling, with supporters that have to lap up and enjoy an highs when they seldom come along. Suffering from a big list of things that limit us.

The bit about not being here without Fenty, you state this as a like it or not fact. It's not, it's an opinion that many disagree with. There is far more evidence to suggest we would still exist than there is that we wouldn't.

Based on last years attendance average we had the 65th highest which would of been bottom 4 of division 1. The main reason that i think our attendances have never really increased over the last thirty years is prominently down to Blundell Park and the whole match day experience.    The clubs that have at least doubled the attendance of the period in question have general have new facilities or have significantly improved facilities, seating views, parking all form part of the match day experience.

Football now has to fight to be a place in people's expenses (not helped by this area being lowly paid and high unemployment), but in the modern age you should be made to feel welcome to be a customer.  At our ground you fell like an inconvenience, whilst the trust has tried hard to improve certain things within this area, i still feel unwelcome at BP.  The one thing i hoped when we went down to non-league was how well they looked after home fans with little or poor facilities.  Most clubs at that level maximised its income from every customer by providing better experiences, from better Food, Beer Festivals, most had good bar areas which were well attended before and after with man of the match awards which a child/Supporter could present (not a corporate no body).  Some after the game had both sets of players in the bar mixing with fans.

Sorry for ranting, but a major problem is that the club for a extremely long time has forgotten about the basic and that is treat the customer with respect and you will get more money in the long run.  I bet that over 50% of the crowd only purchase their ticket on a mach day and do not spend a single £1 on anything.  I think in the first season in non-league I remember reading an article in Southport's programme that they got approximately an additional £7.50 per man, women and child in food/drinks, that attended a game.

Quoted from Grimsby69

Based on last years attendance average we had the 65th highest which would of been bottom 4 of division 1. The main reason that i think our attendances have never really increased over the last thirty years is prominently down to Blundell Park and the whole match day experience.    The clubs that have at least doubled the attendance of the period in question have general have new facilities or have significantly improved facilities, seating views, parking all form part of the match day experience.

Football now has to fight to be a place in people's expenses (not helped by this area being lowly paid and high unemployment), but in the modern age you should be made to feel welcome to be a customer.  At our ground you fell like an inconvenience, whilst the trust has tried hard to improve certain things within this area, i still feel unwelcome at BP.  The one thing i hoped when we went down to non-league was how well they looked after home fans with little or poor facilities.  Most clubs at that level maximised its income from every customer by providing better experiences, from better Food, Beer Festivals, most had good bar areas which were well attended before and after with man of the match awards which a child/Supporter could present (not a corporate no body).  Some after the game had both sets of players in the bar mixing with fans.

Sorry for ranting, but a major problem is that the club for a extremely long time has forgotten about the basic and that is treat the customer with respect and you will get more money in the long run.  I bet that over 50% of the crowd only purchase their ticket on a mach day and do not spend a single £1 on anything.  I think in the first season in non-league I remember reading an article in Southport's programme that they got approximately an additional £7.50 per man, women and child in food/drinks, that attended a game.

All valid points and all coming under the umbrella of a complete lack of vision from those running GTFC. Everything was put on hold till the new stadium came about, and you simply cannot run things down in the hope that one day there will be an upturn and it will all be magically better within a new stadium.

If we ever move, although unlikely, it would be very similar to the current match day experience once the novelty had worn off if the same people are still in charge.

Quoted from Grimsby69

Based on last years attendance average we had the 65th highest which would of been bottom 4 of division 1. The main reason that i think our attendances have never really increased over the last thirty years is prominently down to Blundell Park and the whole match day experience.    The clubs that have at least doubled the attendance of the period in question have general have new facilities or have significantly improved facilities, seating views, parking all form part of the match day experience.

Football now has to fight to be a place in people's expenses (not helped by this area being lowly paid and high unemployment), but in the modern age you should be made to feel welcome to be a customer.  At our ground you fell like an inconvenience, whilst the trust has tried hard to improve certain things within this area, i still feel unwelcome at BP.  The one thing i hoped when we went down to non-league was how well they looked after home fans with little or poor facilities.  Most clubs at that level maximised its income from every customer by providing better experiences, from better Food, Beer Festivals, most had good bar areas which were well attended before and after with man of the match awards which a child/Supporter could present (not a corporate no body).  Some after the game had both sets of players in the bar mixing with fans.

Sorry for ranting, but a major problem is that the club for a extremely long time has forgotten about the basic and that is treat the customer with respect and you will get more money in the long run.  I bet that over 50% of the crowd only purchase their ticket on a mach day and do not spend a single £1 on anything.  I think in the first season in non-league I remember reading an article in Southport's programme that they got approximately an additional £7.50 per man, women and child in food/drinks, that attended a game.

I've never felt unwelcome at Blundell Park. The facilities are not up to modern expectations but I wouldn't use the word 'unwelcome'. Staff are by and large friendly. I suspect that the biggest group of people affected by poor facilities are potential players. I did the stadium tour 13 years ago and quite frankly the changing rooms were shocking then.

I think those non-league clubs do marvels with their low attendance. It shows what can be done to maximise revenue and minimise cost. These clubs are much closer to their fanbase and a higher % of fans get involved in helping out. They're often seen as less the property of one or two rich people so there's more of a sense of ownership. Now I wonder how we can generate that sense of ownership?  

It is a little unfair to compare the non-ticket match day income with Town's however because the ticket prices at GTFC are high relative to the disposable income of people, so they'd have less to spend on (overpriced) drinks and snacks. Our ticket prices are higher than most non-league clubs to start with.

The post match mixing of players and fans in the bar is perhaps less likely as you go higher in the leagues at any club.

MOTM awards presented by fans - great idea but don't forget we get more commercial match and match ball sponsorship so these people are more likely to understandably present awards.

Quoted from Grimsby69

Based on last years attendance average we had the 65th highest which would of been bottom 4 of division 1. The main reason that i think our attendances have never really increased over the last thirty years is prominently down to Blundell Park and the whole match day experience.    The clubs that have at least doubled the attendance of the period in question have general have new facilities or have significantly improved facilities, seating views, parking all form part of the match day experience.

Football now has to fight to be a place in people's expenses (not helped by this area being lowly paid and high unemployment), but in the modern age you should be made to feel welcome to be a customer.  At our ground you fell like an inconvenience, whilst the trust has tried hard to improve certain things within this area, i still feel unwelcome at BP.  The one thing i hoped when we went down to non-league was how well they looked after home fans with little or poor facilities.  Most clubs at that level maximised its income from every customer by providing better experiences, from better Food, Beer Festivals, most had good bar areas which were well attended before and after with man of the match awards which a child/Supporter could present (not a corporate no body).  Some after the game had both sets of players in the bar mixing with fans.

Sorry for ranting, but a major problem is that the club for a extremely long time has forgotten about the basic and that is treat the customer with respect and you will get more money in the long run.  I bet that over 50% of the crowd only purchase their ticket on a mach day and do not spend a single £1 on anything.  I think in the first season in non-league I remember reading an article in Southport's programme that they got approximately an additional £7.50 per man, women and child in food/drinks, that attended a game.

The bit about the facilities and therefore the match day experience is something I agree with 100%. It is precisely why I'm so behind the need to move to a new ground with 21st century facilities. I have more difficulty with the views about the match day experience at non-league grounds. The experience from my perspective as someone who went to the vast majority of non-league away days was at best patchy. There is a lot of truth in what you say about certain clubs out of necessity maximising their income but some of those clubs (I'm thinking the likes of Welling and Bath City) were on a completely different trajectory to us. I met literally hundreds of people who "were" their respective clubs. People at places where nobody who worked for the club on match days were paid-volunteer programme sellers, turnstile operators, snack bar attendants. People who did it for the love of their club and out of a love affair with the game itself. After a visit to Bath I managed to lose my programmes so I thought I'd ring up on the Monday to get some sent out and replaced. When I got through I was speaking to the groundsman who advised me without a hint of irony that I needed to ring back on Thursday when there would be someone in the office. I was full of respect for those people but, invariably, those clubs knew that they had reached their level (in fact neither of the two I mentioned are still in the Conference). I suspect that the powers that be probably knew the first names of the vast majority of their fan base of about 800. Kidderminster excepted I wouldn't say that in general food/drink etc. were any better. In fact I was at Histon where they ran out of any sort of food in the away end before half time. We were a bit of a cash cow for some of those teams. Some made a bit of a fuss of us (Eastleigh and Bath spring to mind) but some were totally unprepared for the extra work needed to accomodate us. Once you get into the Football League the whole business becomes by necessity more professional in its outlook. Towncould let fans select the MOM but why would they commercially when it is a job given to the sponsors who pay handsomely for the privilege?
I love the idea of a beer festival and it's something that would be well worth exploring...

Quoted from Marinerz93

Scunthorpe is smaller or not far off us population wise, and they are in the top 5 of league one, it's down to ambition, drive and determination, we on the other side have is abject failure and man who seems to alienate anybody with cash. People who believe we are small time club in a small town need to get out of their shed and look around at the smaller clubs doing far better than us.

That is exactly right. All this talk about being small, unfashionable, remote, etc, apply equally if not more so, to Scunny. However they have been out performing us for about 15 years now, have been in the championship a couple of times while we have been in free fall, and are strong contenders for promotion or playoff yet again while we are worried about dropping out of the league again.

Over this period they have had a number of different mangers, as we have, and scores of players have come and gone. But yet they have consistently managed to punch above their weight, just as we used to in the 1980's.  The obvious truth is that they are a well run club, with a board that have consistently made good management choices. They have also created an environment in which decent players will sign and stay, allowing the management to build and improve on a stable platform.  

Consider the decent players we have signed but lost. and I'm not talking about Bogle, who we clearly could not afford to keep, Magnay, Toto, Nolan, Amond, Pearson, John Lewis, Arnold etc, We lost those players to the likes of Hartlepool, Chesterfield and Newport. Hardly glamour  clubs, or giants of the game. It seems to me that as soon as a good player gets a chance to move out, most of them take it.  There is something about the way the club is run that drives players away. In any business staff retention is a telling indicator of the health of the organisation.

The public face that the club presents to the outside world is one of rank amateurism. I have no doubt that its the same behind the scenes too.   There is a saying in management consultancy 'The organisation is the response to the leadership'. Companies and football clubs are the reflection of their controllers.

We just do not give off signals of being an ambitious, go ahead club with a vision. As a player we are not a place to be if you can help it. So the first place that change has to occur is right at the top. Not necessarily a change of personnel, but a change of attitude. If the board can't make the right footballing decisions, then bring in someone who can.  And take their advice.  Make a statement of intent, set out where you want the club to go and the steps being made to get there,

Get the right person in overall charge of football affairs and the rest will follow, right management choices, right player choices, good staff retention, and this will translate to consistent success on the pitch. It's not impossible, smaller clubs than us have done it.        

Is Scunthorpe a good example? Isn't it just a club that has a Chairman with tons of cash, that he doesn't mind ploughing into the club? They run at a big loss every season and you can get the better managers and players if you throw enough money at it. Take away their Chairman, and with their gates, they would plummet like a stone.

Quoted from ginnywings

Is Scunthorpe a good example? Isn't it just a club that has a Chairman with tons of cash, that he doesn't mind ploughing into the club? They run at a big loss every season and you can get the better managers and players if you throw enough money at it. Take away their Chairman, and with their gates, they would plummet like a stone.

With plans to re-develop Glanford Park and their current league position, I suspect their 'custodian' will leave them in a better position than ours will us.

Quoted from ginnywings

Is Scunthorpe a good example? Isn't it just a club that has a Chairman with tons of cash, that he doesn't mind ploughing into the club? They run at a big loss every season and you can get the better managers and players if you throw enough money at it. Take away their Chairman, and with their gates, they would plummet like a stone.

You're quite right Ginny, but your point also underlines where we have been deficient as a club for decades. For all JF's efforts and the initial £2m, the inward investment into the club over a very long period has not matched the clubs that have taken a massive step forward. Better footballing choices can mitigate declines in football clubs, but those that want to get forward realised that it takes money by either an initial collaboration of lower wealth individuals or a sense of urgency to find that one big investor. Other than that, it's a slow painful death. It's got to be priority number one along with remaining a Football League club. From the outside it seems like we've sleepwalked into the state we are in now, not just the past 15 years but a lot longer than that. If nothing changes dramatically, GTFC fans are going to be feeding off scraps for generations and it's going to be really painful. Waiting for football fortune or Extreme Leisure to pull a rabbit out of the hat doesn't seem to be anywhere near enough. We are on the operating table and the head surgeon seems like he's feeding us a paracetamol tablet rather than reaching for a knife. In the grand scheme of things, conversations about managers, players, games, support etc are hot air compared to the lack of a credible long term plan. The board need to assess their recent efforts and honestly assess whether it's working or not. And if not, seriously change the plan of attack. I just want the club to show some real urgency to try and get us onto a bigger and better path..

Quoted from RonMariner

That is exactly right. All this talk about being small, unfashionable, remote, etc, apply equally if not more so, to Scunny. However they have been out performing us for about 15 years now, have been in the championship a couple of times while we have been in free fall, and are strong contenders for promotion or playoff yet again while we are worried about dropping out of the league again.

Over this period they have had a number of different mangers, as we have, and scores of players have come and gone. But yet they have consistently managed to punch above their weight, just as we used to in the 1980's.  The obvious truth is that they are a well run club, with a board that have consistently made good management choices. They have also created an environment in which decent players will sign and stay, allowing the management to build and improve on a stable platform.  

Consider the decent players we have signed but lost. and I'm not talking about Bogle, who we clearly could not afford to keep, Magnay, Toto, Nolan, Amond, Pearson, John Lewis, Arnold etc, We lost those players to the likes of Hartlepool, Chesterfield and Newport. Hardly glamour  clubs, or giants of the game. It seems to me that as soon as a good player gets a chance to move out, most of them take it.  There is something about the way the club is run that drives players away. In any business staff retention is a telling indicator of the health of the organisation.

The public face that the club presents to the outside world is one of rank amateurism. I have no doubt that its the same behind the scenes too.   There is a saying in management consultancy 'The organisation is the response to the leadership'. Companies and football clubs are the reflection of their controllers.

We just do not give off signals of being an ambitious, go ahead club with a vision. As a player we are not a place to be if you can help it. So the first place that change has to occur is right at the top. Not necessarily a change of personnel, but a change of attitude. If the board can't make the right footballing decisions, then bring in someone who can.  And take their advice.  Make a statement of intent, set out where you want the club to go and the steps being made to get there,

Get the right person in overall charge of football affairs and the rest will follow, right management choices, right player choices, good staff retention, and this will translate to consistent success on the pitch. It's not impossible, smaller clubs than us have done it.        

None of that will happen whilst Fenty retains control. He loves the day to day involvement in it all, so much so that he loves doing the odd jobs at the ground which he genuinely believes is helping. He owns the place, and he can strut around there for however long he wishes whilst not putting in any worthwhile investment or finding any. It  doesn't seem to matter to him how tinpot it all seems or what the future outlook is.

The only solution to off the field problems is a new board, and there will be no new board till he agrees to forgo at least some of the money he feels he is owed. Its a bit chicken and egg, but we must let Fenty start feeling the heat from the fans that we want change.

Quoted from ginnywings

Is Scunthorpe a good example? Isn't it just a club that has a Chairman with tons of cash, that he doesn't mind ploughing into the club? They run at a big loss every season and you can get the better managers and players if you throw enough money at it. Take away their Chairman, and with their gates, they would plummet like a stone.

A good point Ginny and relevant now I believe he chucks in between £250 to £350k a season, but their first rise up the leagues from league 2 to Championship started with Wharton investing £500k. Obviously you need a decent manager too.

Quoted from Marinerz93

A good point Ginny and relevant now I believe he chucks in between £250 to £350k a season, but their first rise up the leagues from league 2 to Championship started with Wharton investing £500k. Obviously you need a decent manager too.

I think you will find Swann is putting in considerably more than the figures stated above!

It's really a question of how you spend the money too. Regardless of how much is pumped in, it is easy to waste it. That's why I think you need a sound football brain in charge as a first step. Then, whatever funds are forthcoming,  they can be utilised to their best effect.  As we have seen, building a huge squad of mediocre players is not the way to go.

Quoted from Cloudy

I think you will find Swann is putting in considerably more than the figures stated above!

Do you know how much as I've stated from what a Scunt told me when I did some work in Scunny.

Quoted from RonMariner

It's really a question of how you spend the money too. Regardless of how much is pumped in, it is easy to waste it. That's why I think you need a sound football brain in charge as a first step. Then, whatever funds are forthcoming,  they can be utilised to their best effect.  As we have seen, building a huge squad of mediocre players is not the way to go.

Totally agree, though even with Scunny at the top end of league 1, we still average more fans per game, so Swann must be chucking in a fair bit. Of course it's important how you spend it, but you have to have it to spend to begin with.

Football wise I can't think of any time in my life that I've felt more dejected and disillusioned than at present, the grim reality for me is that I can't see anything, anything at all that suggests an uplift any time soon.  I left Grimsby 33 years ago to try and do something with my life, that isn't a slant at anyone who's chosen to stay, it was just the right thing for me to do.  I've lived in North London, Watford, Leighton Buzzard, Lincoln and Higham Ferrers, in amongst the supporters of the local clubs when they've been at their lowest ebb.  There was of course the same moaning, criticism of anything with a pulse and negativity that I pick up through social media and my vists to Grimsby to see relatives, just not on the same scale.   Okay so I'm in a self-imposed exile, I was never an attend every match type but I would consistently manage 10+ home games per season and a similar amount away.  I've perhaps reached a point in my life where the club have long since lost any opportunity to tempt me back on a regular basis, that with the exception of the highly unlikely scenario of moving back to the area.  But lets be clear, and I'm not in a minority of one, I'm in an age group where losing my support also means losing the support of the next generation.  Without encouragement from parents and grand-parents the re-generation of fans is lost, this for me is where the club is failing miserably.  I never used to attend expecting us to win every game 5-0, most of the time I was happy if we didn't lose.  Yes like a lot of other fans I was lucky enough to have witnessed the good times, walking out of the ground bursting with pride that we'd just beaten Wolves, or Sheffield United, Wednesday and Leeds.  Massive clubs that we had no right to expect to beat or even compete with, but we did, regularly.  I remember walking down Wembley Way twice in a matter of weeks, the first time barely able to see where I was going because my eyes were filled with tears.  I/We were very fortunate, privileged in fact, I was proud of where I came from because of Grimsby Town Football Club.

I'd like to think that those days could come again, I'd love the club to ram my exile down my throat and put me in a position where I'd have to spend half the week trying to get a ticket.  Can I see that happening in the near future?  I'm sorry, but not while J Fenty has anything to do with the club.  I don't know the man, he might or might not be a nice guy, I really have no idea.  But the club has lost its identity and soul, he has to take full responsibility for that.  

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

None of that will happen whilst Fenty retains control. He loves the day to day involvement in it all, so much so that he loves doing the odd jobs at the ground which he genuinely believes is helping. He owns the place, and he can strut around there for however long he wishes whilst not putting in any worthwhile investment or finding any. It  doesn't seem to matter to him how tinpot it all seems or what the future outlook is.

The only solution to off the field problems is a new board, and there will be no new board till he agrees to forgo at least some of the money he feels he is owed. Its a bit chicken and egg, but we must let Fenty start feeling the heat from the fans that we want change.

You've hit the nail on the head there. Maybe if he took a step back he might have some time to really think about the real problems. Do the business rather than busy-ness to quote a bit of a cliche.

There needs to be a complete clear out of all the heads of departments so "fresh blood" can be brought in. We need people who have worked at other establishments to bring fresh modern ideas on how the club should progress. Too many people have no other experience in their field except through being at GTFC. Too much recruiting from within , it's all too parochial. JF has constantly said he will accept any reasonable offer from anyone willing to take over the club. Nobody has stepped up so it looks like he will be here for a while. Therefore he must take constructive steps to completely reorganise the whole club but sadly I don't think he is capable of that as I believe he owes an " allegiance " to his staff. A new owner would have no such connection and would act like a new broom to sweep away the stagnancy that pervades the club's structure.