John Fenty: "A Message To Our Supporters"

New statement released just now by John Fenty.

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co......d-together-stronger/

Looks like Jolley will be staying?

A long statement that says very little

Well, that'll out the Fishy in a melt down. Quite a good statement in my eyes. PR appears to be improving alongside results...

Quoted from horsforthmariner

A long statement that says very little

It basically says "it's not my fault"

Just more of the same justifications. Yesterday's scenes and that statement are completely unnecessary.

Quoted from Balthazar Bullitt

It basically says "it's not my fault"

Standard John Fenty.

Rightly or wrongly? Wrongly John, obviously. A blind man could see the wheels had come off and we were in freefall. To back Slade and then back him through the transfer window again, only to sack him soon after was pure madness and as close to negligent as I can imagine.

If I walk away, people will say he's turned his back on the fans and thinks he's better than us? Better that than constantly interacting in an unprofessional way and quite franklyeffing up any and all goodwill every time he does it. Learn some simple lessons John, keep quiet, keep out of sight and have some respect.

Cliche central.

"Rightly or wrongly"

Mostly wrongly.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Just more of the same justifications. Yesterday's scenes and that statement are completely unnecessary.

This in leaps and bounds

Arguing with fans about slade when even stevie wonder was in the #sladeout camp! Put your hands up and admit you were wrong

Wonder who the contractual development refers to.

Quoted from davmariner

Wonder who the contractual development refers to.

Hopefully agreed to terminate Kelly and Dixons contracts

Basically more material for Tommy of the Town

The bit that made me laugh was"I am always open to dialogue with our supporters" when at the fans forum someone explained to him what the club did was wrong and Fenty said that's your opinion, when it was the majorities opinion

Also the cautionary tales of Hartlepool United, York City, Rushden & Diamonds, Darlington, Stockport County, Chester City, putting those up as examples of justification for the excrement we have had to endure under his appalling tenure exposes the clubs lack of ambition and why we are failing under his and his yes men.

Makes me physically sick. How much longer will Town fans buy this shite.

Not one admittance of any kind of error, ever!!

No humility whatsoever, he makes me want to walk away.

One last time "SHUT THE intercourse UP"

It literally says in that statement, in black and white, he makes no apologies (for what he thinks are in the best interests of the club).

The bloke cannot apologise and cannot take any responsibility for anything bad that's happened. It's always someone else's fault (usually the fans'), or circumstance.

John, with the greatest respect, your judgment of what's in the best interests of this football club is what took it into non-league - and nearly again. You are a poor judge of character and you have proven that you make a succession of bad decisions that have threatened the future of this football club.

I believe you when you say you have our best interests at heart but over these last 16 years or so we've lurched from one bad season to another under your stewardship. That is beyond coincidence.

That statement says nothing other than 'I'm only human and I'll keep doing what I think is right, even if you don't like it, and you should continue to support me'.

He talks about disappointments but takes none of the blame. That statement is incredibly defensive. I don't agree that he's open and honest - he has slanging matches with fans. That's not being open an honest. That's just being nasty and antagonistic.

Once again there's reference to 'rolling with the punches'. So many of his statements are littered with aggressive metaphors. The guy is incredibly aggressive - you don't need a degree in psychology to see that.

All in all that's a pretty useless statement. It's simply John's effort to defend himself but he's framed it as if he's trying to rally the troops.

Sorry John but I see right through it. Scratch beneath the surface and it's nothing more than 'I'll keep doing what I think is right' - even though what you think is right is just damaging the club, year after year.

Setting up a “exile season membership scheme”

Fenty IN

Only an idiot could be taken in by that unapologetic, passive aggressive, arrogant, condescending claptrap. He really does think that us GTFC fans haven't got a single brain cell between the lot of us..

The scary thing is, he believes in the rubbish he writes and also thinks it's an intelligent bulletproof statement to put out..

Somebody out there.. please save our club..

Someone must have cloth ears, because the exile package has been suggested before as has the shift workers' ST.

There's one thing to add to what Rich, Cloudy and others have said. I don't now about anyone else but I don't love this football club for the ups and the downs. I don't think 'oh goodie, we're on a downward run because of inept management from the board down.'

If he wanted to make a statement reflecting on the end to the season and to look to the next, he should simply have stuck to a statement noting the (relative) success since MJ came, thanking the squad and management, and thanking the fans for their support which helped push the team over the line. Job done. But John Fenty can't do that can he? He has to try to justify himself and defend the indefensible.

JF says when somebody with the level of cash required is ready to step in , this is ok. As for Slade he did seem a safe pair of hands, I put £20 on us to win the league so I was taken in by the idiot Slade. only half way through this season did i realize that I had not seen such rotten home games since he was last in charge, so stick or twist with Slade, the numpty was plausible but 5 years past his sell by date, So here we are JF and the board have made a lot of mistakes I agree, Appointing Neil woods was the killer for me as that guy was hopeless. .Until this mystery takeover appears I am happy to go as we are. If any of the out brigade are prepared to step in then I will be a supporter but in all of these threads I never see a tangible alternative but plenty of noise, this is my point of view and I know I will get slaughtered for it utm

What have we learned from that?

1) The board is going nowhere and take no responsibility for yet another appalling, error strewn season, on and off the pitch. The latest in a very long, and tiresome, line of bad seasons.

2) Statements are not proof read. "Wheeled the axe" ?

3) It could have been a lot worse. We could have been as sh1t as some other sh1ttier clubs that are more in the sh1t than we are.

4) We can't all be Lincoln or Bristol Rovers. Only other clubs know how to get it right first time and build on a success.

5) JF has skin as thick as a Rhino.

6) I will not be purchasing a season ticket.

I wonder how many will not be getting . renewing there season tickets now after that load of c**p, I know i wont be geting one now

Almost forgot in all the excitement. Was that a little bit of good news thrown in there about a certain player and his contract?

As usual what. Load of of flipping balderdash.
Say nothing.
If you are going to say anything say sorry I appointed Slade and sorry I kept faith in the idiot for so long.
Again a statement that shouldn’t have been made by an idiot that shouldn’t have made it.

All he had to do is give MJ a top five budget , keep his mouth shut and pull his finger out and get us a new ground and there might just be a chance that the fans can forgive

I know many on here have it in for John but come on, he can't win whatever he does... Now I want a new fresh approach and would love someone to take over the club and John to step aside, but there is no one. What can he do? He's openly said 100 times if the right person(s) comes forward he will step aside, until then he's going to put money in if and when needed. I think the statement is OK. Not great, OK. He's saying he and the club are looking at ways to get the fans more involved and closer together. Isn't that what we want? Only time will tell but these past few weeks it feels like that bond and closeness is getting better, just a small example of trust holders getting 5% off St is a nice touch.

I’m glad Fenty kept Slade on to the detriment to the club in both the short and long term just so people didn’t think he was “trigger happy”. Certainly not something that troubled him as he sacked Bignot 6 months into a “3 year plan” he’d recently backed...

As others have said, yet more unapologetic balderdash from a bloke without a shred of empathy or foresight in his entire being. “I was only on the pitch to give Jolley some news about a contract” really? Does anyone actually buy this garbage? If that’s the case, why not wait 30 seconds until they’re done?

It will be a great, great day in this club’s history when he walks out of that door for the final time.

I know what this Contract development is.

We can't give James McKeown a pay rise but to compensate that, we'll provide a bag of crisps to go in his daughters lunch box every day.

I can understand why he feels the need to release a statement like this as it must be very frustrating for him to find himself in yet another argument with fans that’s made him look a bit silly . But I can’t understand why he gets himself in that position on the fooking first place !! He must’ve realised how relations between the club and fans has improved in the last few months since he’s kept his head down . But mr fenty simply cannot help himself .

FFS stop doing this Fenty !!

Oh and what exactly is an Exile Season Membership anyway ??

[/quote]  just a small example of trust holders getting 5% off St is a nice touch. [/quote]

I have already renewed my season ticket and paid £305 for pontoon.
How do I claim back my 5% and why did I not get charged £289.75 in the first place.
Online there was no option to state your trust membership number anywhere!
Can I go into the club shop and claim back £15.25

No mention of new ground in that statement

Quoted from easypeersy

No mention of new ground in that statement

That’s cos it will never happen

Following the statement it’s now up to you and the board john to show some real intent for next season and get James Mckeown signed on don’t make the same mistake as Shaun p last season,Both are Grimsby town through and through and that’s the kind of player the club needs for the fans especially,The bond between the players and fans is very much needed and has slowly come back over the last ten games or so and we need to keep that going as we have shown how successful we can be as a team on the pitch with performances of 2nd place in the form table,It’s now time to back jolley put your hand in your pocket and actually buy some quality players keep our best players with hardly no freebies or loan players, Quality players that’s what is gonna sell season tickets and put bums on seats at this club !!!! A couple of strikers is a must maybe goalscorers from lower league with fire in their bellies ie Hearn Bogle I’m sure jolley knows who he wants so now it’s the boards turn to show the fans they also mean business for next season UTM ALL TOWN ARENT WE ⚫️⚪️

Quoted from lukeo

I know many on here have it in for John but come on, he can't win whatever he does... Now I want a new fresh approach and would love someone to take over the club and John to step aside, but there is no one. What can he do? He's openly said 100 times if the right person(s) comes forward he will step aside, until then he's going to put money in if and when needed. I think the statement is OK. Not great, OK. He's saying he and the club are looking at ways to get the fans more involved and closer together. Isn't that what we want? Only time will tell but these past few weeks it feels like that bond and closeness is getting better, just a small example of trust holders getting 5% off St is a nice touch.

The problem with your argument is that it's Fenty who is choosing the right person(s), and his character judgment is non-existent!

Totally unnecessary statement filled with excuses. He has capped the season off in true JF style with his antics after the game and now this statement, which really means 'poor me'. Is there any wonder many fans are unhappy with this constant drivel
He just cannot help himself

Still don't quite understand why he had to go on the pitch after the game to give MJ a contractual update, unless I missed something.
However, you sometimes have to read between the lines and when someone says I made this decision "rightly or wrongly" what they're saying is I got it wrong. It's a politicians apology. I also thing he's correct in saying it would be irresponsible to walk away without replacement leadership and financial support in place.
Someone on here said he needs a mentor to sit beside him and get him to consider the consequences of his actions. "John, why are you heading to the pitch? What might happen given your standing with our supporters? What positive things might happen as a result? Why not let MJ and the boys take their 5 minutes of glory? Good man John, sit back down, have a beer and thank your lucky stars you got something right two months ago"

I just wish somebody would proof read the statements he puts out. It's so unprofessional to release things with basic grammatical errors all over it, it is awful. Also, it reads exactly how he speaks. He can't claim guys account has been hacked! I heard he is a bit dyslexic so even more reason to have things checked before hitting send. I guess that's just his arrogance shining through once again.
He's gotta go. Soon.

Quoted from Biccys

I just wish somebody would proof read the statements he puts out. It's so unprofessional to release things with basic grammatical errors all over it, it is awful. Also, it reads exactly how he speaks. He can't claim guys account has been hacked! I heard he is a bit dyslexic so even more reason to have things checked before hitting send. I guess that's just his arrogance shining through once again.
He's gotta go. Soon.

By the look of it he isn’t going anywhere soon but a good starting point would be being open about what he actually wants to go. When that’s been put to him he flirts around football fortune etc etc

Shock, horror club owner engage’s with the fans! A very reasonable statement in my opinion he made some valid points, he summed up the season well and was positive about next season, some fans and a proven  small minority (most of which must be on this site) will never get off his back its called a Fenty syndrome, aided and abetted by the planks at Cod all Mighty, if we were to win the league next season Fenty would still be in the wrong, it’s like watching CNN!

Thank you for the statement John, I know a lot of fans are already optimistic about next season, only yesterday I spoke to a couple who said they would be buying season tickets for the very first time, My only minor criticism is as a shift worker a season ticket wouldn’t be worthwhile for me and my family so maybe this could be looked at, as there are many more in the same boat.

it’s like watching CNN!  

I think a number of people have hit on "he can't help it" thing, and it's true. After keeping out of the spotlight for the last few weeks to let MJ get on with the job he has to have his moment of glory. Jeezo John, anypone with a modicum of common sense would have known there would be the inevitable criticism, and rightly so. He had to talk to the manager about someone's contract? Please don't insult our intelligence. Oh, and the next time someone gets banned from being on the pitch at BP......

A professionally worded mea culpa after a week or so following the season's finish would have been so much more dignified, but he can't help it, can he?

As with pretty much all of the non-chairman's statements we've seen over the years, this was completely unnecessary and completely counter-productive.

Whenever Fenty gets the itch to post one of these statements, he should follow 2 basic rules:

1. Don't do it. Really, don't. Nothing good will come of it.
2. Get somebody to proof read/edit the statement but then still don't post it regardless of the time spent.

A long well thought out and articulate meSsage as ever from John Fenty.  If you didn't know better you could be forgiven for thinking this was written by a politician instead of the Chairman.  I would love to buy into this message and take all the positives from it, but sadly, this is the same type of standard message we seem to get at the end of every season.  Its a message to tug at the heart strings and make you go out and buy your season ticket once again.  The reality in my opinion is that not much will change at all.  Better players will be allowed to leave due to finance, and replacements will be sought of a cheap nature, and we will build a squad that will hold its own and nothing more.  Deep down behind closed doors I am quite sure that Fenty's opinion of the Town fans is rather similar to the Town fans opinion of him.  I must say though, that when you are taking constant abuse and flack, you are entitled to let off a bit of steam, so I personally don't blame Fenty for the odd outbreak of anger.  The bottom line in all of this is that we do need some forward thinking new Board with the finance and ambition to take the club forward to their natural position in the scheme of things, which  in my opinion would be mid table league one.  Throw in the odd cup run and the jobs a good' un.

I am not a Fenty fan in any shape or form, but to all the Fenty out brigade, be careful what you wish for.  Nobody else has stepped up to the plate in the last few years, and until such time, we are better off keeping the club stable.  The club needs Fenty more than Fenty needs the club........ UTM

There are good and bad elements to this statement.  

Some positives that supporters of Fenty will highlight.  Some negatives that haters will highlight.

For me the important thing is this.  At the moment, no-one has come forward to buy the club. No one wants to front up a supporter ownership.  For the time being, we are stuck with the status quo.

The one clear positive of JF is that he is a fan and fall all his mistakes, he wants the club to do well.  He has that in common with the rest of us.

There is very little to be gained from a toxic atmosphere between owners and fans particularly if we have reasons to be optimistic on the pitch.  

Let’s back MJ and the players and keep our views of the Board for a grumble in the pub and not make it a reason for discontent at games.

Scraping the barrel when he gets criticised for his grammar FFS. I like that fact it's not perfection If he'd had it speech written they'd accuse him of Fraud.

Quoted from jock dock tower

He had to talk to the manager about someone's contract? Please don't insult our intelligence.

But it's not that hard to conceive of a situation where he had to do that. McKeown obviously has interest from elsewhere and the situation needs resolving promptly. Maybe MJ has said what he wants to do the day before and the board need to discuss it. The board are at the match, discuss it and then JF goes to speak to MJ and put the offer across before they get on the coach, where it's not the appropriate place to discuss it in front of the rest of the squad. It's hardly far fetched.

He probably should have known better than to go to the fans, but they were beckoning him over and we know he wants to be open to fans. I'd like to see how the holier than thou brigade on here would respond in the same situation being called a liar and abused in the same way.

What really grates me, is that we can't just move on and support for next season. It's no coincidence that the upturn in form has come when the supporters have got behind the club and the whole atmosphere has been positive. The last couple of home games I've been to have been the best support I can remember.

I don't expect people to change their opinion, but this air of negativity hurts everybody. It's all well and good stomping your feet for JF to leave, but there's nobody to step in at the moment and success isn't going to come about by continually saying negative things. If everybody gets behind the team and continues the great support, I think Jolley could work wonders next season.

There are good points if you look for them, rather than dwell on the negative as some on this thread are prone to do. At least we get an explanation for the thinking behind not sacking Slade earlier, they nearly made a fatal mistake but to be fair I think few people anticipated such a dramatic nosedive as we had.

The Community Events are a good idea but the last one turned into a bit of a farce. Most of the suggestions for changes were batted off, but it's good to see at least some initiatives being taken on board like earlier season tickets and the new scheme for Exiles. They are never going to grant every wish, but the board do listen, and there can't be many clubs where the views of the supporters are as scrutinised as they are on here at times.

The regime change thing sounds a bit half-hearted. While it's all very well saying contact SM, it's far from encouraging and almost an offhand comment. There's no real evidence anyone has been approached. They may well have been but that's the way it comes across.

The biggest plus point though is that we have a manager everyone is behind for the first time for years (other than the first few days of the new manager's reign). It's the most excited I have felt about a new season for years, and am genuinely interested to see who he signs whereas a year ago I was expecting a few solid if unspectacular signings and a quest for a mid-season berth. I really do feel we'll be challenging at the top end next year, and can't wait to see the bookies prices as I am expecting long odds for promotion.

It's only two years ago that we had one of the most memorable ends to a season in years. Success and this board are not mutually exclusive. After two years in the wilderness I feel a good season is around the corner again.

No matter what has or hasn’t been said, all this does is divide the fan base again as soon as the manager has started to pull us all together. And it’s that bit he doesn’t and never will get.

Quoted from pen penfras

But it's not that hard to conceive of a situation where he had to do that. McKeown obviously has interest from elsewhere and the situation needs resolving promptly. Maybe MJ has said what he wants to do the day before and the board need to discuss it. The board are at the match, discuss it and then JF goes to speak to MJ and put the offer across before they get on the coach, where it's not the appropriate place to discuss it in front of the rest of the squad. It's hardly far fetched.

He probably should have known better than to go to the fans, but they were beckoning him over and we know he wants to be open to fans. I'd like to see how the holier than thou brigade on here would respond in the same situation being called a liar and abused in the same way.

What really grates me, is that we can't just move on and support for next season. It's no coincidence that the upturn in form has come when the supporters have got behind the club and the whole atmosphere has been positive. The last couple of home games I've been to have been the best support I can remember.

I don't expect people to change their opinion, but this air of negativity hurts everybody. It's all well and good stomping your feet for JF to leave, but there's nobody to step in at the moment and success isn't going to come about by continually saying negative things. If everybody gets behind the team and continues the great support, I think Jolley could work wonders next season.

oh fuuuuuuuuuucccckkk ooooofffffffff with this.

Everyone IS behind Jolley and the team, but not everyone is happy for Fenty to embarrass the club at every single opportunity.

The good form has also coincided with him keeping his head down and his mouth shut, why can he never learn?

How many more times?

Have to say I found it more positive than negative.slightly better written and more contrite than his usual offerings. The bit i didn't understand was the expense of getting rid of want away players.how is getting rid of players a huge expense? Also be still didn't explain why no players were signed in january,bar loanees, when he said that the board had given slade funds to make signings.I
I can sort of see his reasoning on slade and saturday, but I just hope that someone can be a restraining influence on him as we are stuck with him for the foreseeable.
As has been said many times before please just keep your mouth shut and let day jolle y and the trust do the talking

Quoted from ginnywings

What have we learned from that?

1) The board is going nowhere and take no responsibility for yet another appalling, error strewn season, on and off the pitch. The latest in a very long, and tiresome, line of bad seasons.

2) Statements are not proof read. "Wheeled the axe" ?

3) It could have been a lot worse. We could have been as sh1t as some other sh1ttier clubs that are more in the sh1t than we are.

4) We can't all be Lincoln or Bristol Rovers. Only other clubs know how to get it right first time and build on a success.

5) JF has skin as thick as a Rhino.

6) I will not be purchasing a season ticket.

I am sure Lincoln and BR supporters would be surprised to know their clubs got it right first time!

If Jolley takes us to the play-offs next year will we have got it right first time too?

I am in sympathy with the view that a Fentyless club would be a more harmonious club ....... but whether it would be more successful depends entirely on what happens after the apocalypse does it not? If Accrington fail to set L1 alight, will they have had it right? Success needs planning, the club needs to plan for Jolley AND whatever comes post-Jolley. Knee jerk never got a club anywhere in the long run.

Noticeable that while the bad run was going there were lots of blame posts and posts demanding apologies for Slade’s appointment. When Jolley started doing well the few posts of praise for the board were at best grudging. We all know that really the board have been sh!t lucky to survive the season in one piece. The luckiest bit was not being able to appoint the manager they wanted.

There are two facts of life in football. One is that money does matter especially if your club is situated in the middle of the North Sea. The other is luck and a combination of board, manager and players plus fans. To get all 4 going the same way at the same time can rest on one moment like a penalty in the last minute. Score it and you create a completely new atmosphere of confidence. Miss it and the whole thing can fall to bits no matter how good or bad the separate parts may be.

When he retires from playing, Mitch Rose should be stuffed and mounted in the boardroom at BP as a reminder for every meeting in there how close the club was to another disaster and why upwards ambition is the primary requirement in a football club.

Should he have gone on the pitch?  No
Should he have been issuing a statement in the dead of night, that hadn't been proof-read or checked for content by anyone?  Again, probably not.

Having said that, we know he's someone who is first and foremost a Town fan, someone who wears his heart on his sleeve and can't help himself.  He's emotional.  He has fits of passion.  He gets things wrong.  He acknowledged he's only human.  It's getting to the stage where the re-hashed reaction to these mishaps (I'm guilty of this for sure) is getting as tiresome as the mishaps themselves.

I'm just so glad to be still in the league with a brilliant manager and having a great season to look forward to in 2018/19, I'd rather just concentrate on the positives:  The exiles scheme, the community activities, the great manager, and all pull together on the bits where we agree?

No player wants to sign for a crisis club, and no manager will want to stay at one for very long, so I'm very happy, as someone who wants JSF to go sooner rather than later, for him to take a back seat as he has done for the last few months and be a silent, benign dictator.  He can concentrate on putting together his exit strategy, other directors and staff can step up and be a better public face of the club, and the fans can concentrate on backing the team.  

I think as fans we need to be sensible about this situation now. It’s clear that something at the top of the club needs a change but we have to realise that it’s not a simple process. Those telling Fenty to get out now have to see that it doesn’t work like that and wether you like it or not the club would suffer if the current board just packed up their offices and left never to be seen again. Say what you like about John Fenty but he’s a Grimsby Town fan through and through and there’s not a chance he would knowingly place the club in danger by walking away without leaving a new structure to take over.

He’s now publicly stated that he’ll leave if there’s someone to take over, so we’ll just have to be patient and wait. In the mean time we’ve got an exciting young manager to get behind and support and maybe we’ll have something to really excited over on the pitch come August.

Hopefully now he’s had his say in latest statement, he’ll keep quiet for the summer and let Michael Jolley do the talking on the football side of things.

Quoted from HackneyHaddock

Should he have gone on the pitch?  No
Should he have been issuing a statement in the dead of night, that hadn't been proof-read or checked for content by anyone?  Again, probably not.

Having said that, we know he's someone who is first and foremost a Town fan, someone who wears his heart on his sleeve and can't help himself.  He's emotional.  He has fits of passion.  He gets things wrong.  He acknowledged he's only human.  It's getting to the stage where the re-hashed reaction to these mishaps (I'm guilty of this for sure) is getting as tiresome as the mishaps themselves.

I'm just so glad to be still in the league with a brilliant manager and having a great season to look forward to in 2018/19, I'd rather just concentrate on the positives:  The exiles scheme, the community activities, the great manager, and all pull together on the bits where we agree?

No player wants to sign for a crisis club, and no manager will want to stay at one for very long, so I'm very happy, as someone who wants JSF to go sooner rather than later, for him to take a back seat as he has done for the last few months and be a silent, benign dictator.  He can concentrate on putting together his exit strategy, other directors and staff can step up and be a better public face of the club, and the fans can concentrate on backing the team.  

This latest farcical statement and Saturdays episode on the pitch shows that your last paragraph is just wishful thinking sadly, however much we would all agree.

Despite Jolley, despite our great escape I feel as flat as a pancake at the thought of more Fenty years to come. He is a parody of himself; a caricature like John Shuttleworth but not nearly as funny.

Quoted from HackneyHaddock

Should he have gone on the pitch?  No
Should he have been issuing a statement in the dead of night, that hadn't been proof-read or checked for content by anyone?  Again, probably not.
  

Grammarly would go a long way. 10 critical issues in the statement which the free version picks up and another 36 advanced issues which you need the paid version for.

If you're that desperate to sell the club John name your price. At the very least clarify whether you would expect your loans to be paid back or not.

Quoted from GrimRob

Grammarly would go a long way. 10 critical issues in the statement which the free version picks up and another 36 advanced issues which you need the paid version for.

Who cares? He is not going anywhere so what is the point? 15 years of poorly written communications are not going to stop anytime soon, the same as the way the club is run will not change anytime soon whilst he stays. It is a big blow that he is no nearer leaving, and all we can do now is wait for the next almighty member up; the first chance he gets will see Jolley running for the hills.    

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

This latest farcical statement and Saturdays episode on the pitch shows that your last paragraph is just wishful thinking sadly, however much we would all agree.

Despite Jolley, despite our great escape I feel as flat as a pancake at the thought of more Fenty years to come. He is a parody of himself; a caricature like John Shuttleworth but not nearly as funny.

Like you say - despite Jolley I too feel that way but it was predictable. once the threat of relegation was over I think we all knew deep down that JF would carry on as though it was just a blip and the sun will come out tomorrow.

If we are to be a yo-yo club we must aim to be doing that between the Championship and L1. There has to be a long term plan for what happens on the field and sod the Fentydome. Dare I say it, we need to be more like Scunthorpe United in our planning but that is why I too feel flat about it all. Fenty sees our horizons as being limited to the Accrington scenario - good manager, cheap squad, good run at the right time. We should be planning a future for a club that works almost regardless of who is the manager.

Quoted from Vance Warner

If you're that desperate to sell the club John name your price. At the very least clarify whether you would expect your loans to be paid back or not.

This is a key point. He needs to clarify what is happening with the loans and how much he wants. My feeling is he wants his money back which won’t happen.

Another statement after another wholly unnecessary and innapropriate incident. How about a bit of humility? An apology and acceptance he shouldn’t behave like that. Admitting that mistakes have been made and lessons learned could bring people together. Trying to say it’s not my fault and people say mean things is not up to scratch.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

This is a key point. He needs to clarify what is happening with the loans and how much he wants. My feeling is he wants his money back which won’t happen.

He doesn't really want to sell though does he? In his eyes he is one successful season away from vindication. We are stuck with him till either we get some success and are more attractive to new buyers, or fall back into non league when even he would recognise failure and give it up.

Fans fault.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

He doesn't really want to sell though does he? In his eyes he is one successful season away from vindication. We are stuck with him till either we get some success and are more attractive to new buyers, or fall back into non league when even he would recognise failure and give it up.

He wants to sell but he wants to remain in charge under a new owner and not lose his place on the board where he has the most say.

Quoted from Kris2

He wants to sell but he wants to remain in charge under a new owner and not loI can't believe nobody has come forward se his place on the board where he has the most say.

It is difficult to believe no one has snatched his hand off with such an attractive offer on the table..

John Fenty is going nowhere. Nothing except maybe relegation to non league is going to stand in the way of his dream of running a football club. And if you read through the statement, it's pretty much about him, his excuses (not apologies) and his feelings. Half of our our fans fall for it time and time again. It's like having to go see your kid every week at your ex-missus house because you love your kid. The same ex-missus that's cheated right in front of you on numerous occasions, rubbed it in your face, slagged you off and never apologised but you still have to hand over wads of cash to her because you'll never want to stop seeing the child you love.

We all want the team to do well and it probably will next season and maybe the season after that until Jolley leaves.

But the team is not the club. And it's the club, its infrastructure and board ethos that's struggling and even though we've got Jolley it will still hold us back to some degree in attracting new players and new fans. It's alright ignoring it because there's a bit of hope next season, but what do we fall back on when our team isn't any good and we've got a useless manager again? What sort of club is there going to be for our kids and grandchildren? I bet a non-investing Fenty's here in ten or twenty years (if the club survives) saying and doing the same things and having everyone over a barrel like he has done for years. He's nailed his dream down because he wants £3m for a club that's not even worth a quarter of that price. That statement last night was full of non and half truths and not a single acceptance of wrongdoing in a one of the most shameful,board-driven turbulent seasons ever witnessed.

I find it fine if fans just want to watch football season after season and not look to the long term, but there's a good number of us that also think and worry about the long term too. Nothing has moved the infrastructure of our club forward in the past twenty years and the board haven't got a vision for the future but because we can see some green shoots of progression on the pitch, suddenly everything in the garden is rosy?

Let's get excited about Jolley, but let's not forget that as a whole our club is still a dinosaur in a fast progressing football world where just about every club is leaving us well behind and we'll end up on the non-investment Fenty budget train (that only John's allowed to drive) to nowhere eventually.

Quoted from GrimRob

There are good points if you look for them, rather than dwell on the negative as some on this thread are prone to do. At least we get an explanation for the thinking behind not sacking Slade earlier, they nearly made a fatal mistake but to be fair I think few people anticipated such a dramatic nosedive as we had.

The Community Events are a good idea but the last one turned into a bit of a farce. Most of the suggestions for changes were batted off, but it's good to see at least some initiatives being taken on board like earlier season tickets and the new scheme for Exiles. They are never going to grant every wish, but the board do listen, and there can't be many clubs where the views of the supporters are as scrutinised as they are on here at times.

The regime change thing sounds a bit half-hearted. While it's all very well saying contact SM, it's far from encouraging and almost an offhand comment. There's no real evidence anyone has been approached. They may well have been but that's the way it comes across.

The biggest plus point though is that we have a manager everyone is behind for the first time for years (other than the first few days of the new manager's reign). It's the most excited I have felt about a new season for years, and am genuinely interested to see who he signs whereas a year ago I was expecting a few solid if unspectacular signings and a quest for a mid-season berth. I really do feel we'll be challenging at the top end next year, and can't wait to see the bookies prices as I am expecting long odds for promotion.

It's only two years ago that we had one of the most memorable ends to a season in years. Success and this board are not mutually exclusive. After two years in the wilderness I feel a good season is around the corner again.

I think a fair few of us on here after the Morcambe game were saying that there was only one way this club was heading with Slade in charge so I don't believe that bullshit from Fenty.

After a excrement season he shouldn't have engaged with the fans after the win and he shouldn't have issued yet another dismal statement he should have just shut the intercourse up.

Quoted from jimgtfc

I think as fans we need to be sensible about this situation now. It’s clear that something at the top of the club needs a change but we have to realise that it’s not a simple process. Those telling Fenty to get out now have to see that it doesn’t work like that and wether you like it or not the club would suffer if the current board just packed up their offices and left never to be seen again. Say what you like about John Fenty but he’s a Grimsby Town fan through and through and there’s not a chance he would knowingly place the club in danger by walking away without leaving a new structure to take over.

He’s now publicly stated that he’ll leave if there’s someone to take over, so we’ll just have to be patient and wait. In the mean time we’ve got an exciting young manager to get behind and support and maybe we’ll have something to really excited over on the pitch come August.

Hopefully now he’s had his say in latest statement, he’ll keep quiet for the summer and let Michael Jolley do the talking on the football side of things.

I have to ask the question why?

I don't read the club accounts so can you tell me exactly how much the current board (excluding the Trust) have put into the club this current or last season?

Quoted from arryarryarry

I have to ask the question why?

I don't read the club accounts so can you tell me exactly how much the current board (excluding the Trust) have put into the club this current or last season?

£0

Took £200k+ out..

But some fans actually believe that JF pays the wages..

The argument with the fans? Why? This statement? Why?

The truth is that most of the things that the board have been involved with this season have gone wrong. Bragate, Checkatrade, Fans Forum, SLO, getting recorded slagging the fans off (twice) etc.

The next truth is that the only reason for optimism is a new manager who was, dependent on rumours, second or third choice.

Would you really have been 'trigger happy' to fire Slade in January? No - listen to Danny Collins' interview last week - he clearly states that we were getting lucky before Christmas. He also clearly identifies one of the changes that MJ has made is interaction with senior players. Things were starting to break down even before the 20 game winless run - is it not incumbent on the board to make decisions rather than 'hope' things turn around?

We (the fans) know how much GTFC means to you Mr Fenty - but you aren't on your own. We crave success as much as you do - I suggest that now you've got a hungry and ambitious manager on board that you give him the support that the Cowleys seem to have had at Lincoln before he thinks that his time would be better spent elsewhere.

Who knows, you might get some fans back on board that way rather than looking to justify the past.

"Rightly or wrongly, I have taken a hell of a lot of flack in recent years"

"Wrongly" nearly 15 years of shite and he suggest wrongly.

Was there even one word of apology for nearly leading the club out of the Football League for the second time?

If you are going to stay, Mr Fenty, then may I give you some advice?

1. Shut up. Your press releases have always done more harm than good and are a waste of time.

2. Keep off the field, keep off the terraces, keep out of fans’ forums, it only ends in arguments or worse.

3. Appoint a respected chairman to do the PR with the media and the fans.

4. Remember that your personal reputation depends on the well being of our club, not vice versa.  If you want to bask in the glory you have to be prepared to swim in the sewer as well.

5. Do not apologise. You have said more than enough.

6. Repeat 1 to 5.

I'm no JF fan but on a positive note..... JF and the boards appointment of Jolley has to be commended.

On the downside.......

Fully expecting the club to somehow mess this one up in the future and Jolley clears off.

Day 3 of the off-season.

Using your basic language John: have you copulated off yet?

No season ticket for me whilst your here John. You see John, I was called a bully a few months ago so I might as well play the part. Not a penny more from myself and I will do everything in my power to pursade any of my mates who are also ST holders not to renew.

It's you or me John. I have done the intercourse off part for now. I will come back to attending home matches when you have copulated off.

Quoted from bluerose13x

Day 3 of the off-season.

Using your basic language John: have you copulated off yet?

No season ticket for me whilst your here John. You see John, I was called a bully a few months ago so I might as well play the part. Not a penny more from myself and I will do everything in my power to pursade any of my mates who are also ST holders not to renew.

It's you or me John. I have done the intercourse off part for now. I will come back to attending home matches when you have copulated off.

I respect your choice about not buying a season ticket while JF is in charge...... but for me the issue is if MJ is given competitive funds next season to capture target players early before we are left with the dregs no one wants........watch this space.

To  me this letter is not too bad. It gives his account of things and in all fairness it seems pretty feasible. He didn't write it as his entry into a literacy exam so why is everybody scrutinizing every word or phrase that he uses. With "sic erat scriptum" throughout the text the "Grimsby" Evening Telegraph is surely taking the piste after all the mistakes that it makes in virtually every column. Is this a way for them to get their own back?

Well looking at all the ticks and crosses looks like he's our own Mr. Marmight you either like him or loathe him.

He says if he had walked away from those fans he would have been called an uncaring sod or words to that effect.

No, John, you do not have to pour fuel on the fire walking away would have been a much better solution.

Reminded me of a certain Rob Scot a few years back and his little tait a tait with the fans.

Quoted from golfer

To  me this letter is not too bad. It gives his account of things and in all fairness it seems pretty feasible. He didn't write it as his entry into a literacy exam so why is everybody scrutinizing every word or phrase that he uses. With "sic erat scriptum" throughout the text the "Grimsby" Evening Telegraph is surely taking the piste after all the mistakes that it makes in virtually every column. Is this a way for them to get their own back?

It's not about literacy or dyslexia.

It's about justifying a season of decisions where just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong, particularly after the Fans Forum. It would not be a sign of weakness to admit that some decisions were flawed (you could say that had already happened in that recording) and that he and the board needed to learn from them. But, no, that's just not JF's style. He is right, we are wrong.

I've thought long & hard about next year's season tickets - GTFC is my club and 'In Jolley I trust' but the Season Tickets will be in spite of the board not because of them.

Where do I start ?

Well things were a lot better when JF  went silent on us,

Every time he opens his mouth he creates even more ammunition for the fans to have a go at him,

If you want to speak to the masses John tell us you have just given MJ  a 3 year contract instead of the micky mouse one you and you alone thinks its a good deal for both parties.

You have just made some of Town's loyal long term supporters come out again and say I will not buy a ST when they might have changed their minds because of MJ.

People also want to know how much would it take to buy the club,

Well I can answer that for you because you told me before you said "don't contact me again "because I kept asking questions you did not want to answer.

John Fenty benign  loans are benign while he is at the club so we are stuck with him as he wants his money back if somebody comes in and buys the club, This can be done in stages if not a lump sum,

So when is a benign  loan not a benign loan ?

It will cost in the region of 2 millions + 1.5 million in shares  = £3.5 million

I wish I could win the lottery , I would not make myself chairman or even spokesperson I would let somebody in PR  speak on behalf of the club and accountants to make sure the books are done.

Now if you did that John I would not have to win the lottery would I ?

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

The problem with your argument is that it's Fenty who is choosing the right person(s), and his character judgment is non-existent!

Doesn't say a lot for his choice of new manager, very worrying, I thought he'd got this one right

I'd like honest John to comment on why under his tenure Town's position for most of those seasons has either ended in relegation or scrapping around the foot of league 2. The season where we got promoted from non league doesn't count as we should have never been in that league to start with.

I'd like honest John to explain the MP shares fiasco.

I'd like honest John to give the trust it's shares back.

I'd like honest John to give us an update on the stadium.

Going to get my season ticket early this time, to help fund new players, its not about one individual its about the club

Quoted from arryarryarry

I think a fair few of us on here after the Morcambe game were saying that there was only one way this club was heading with Slade in charge so I don't believe that bullshit from Fenty.

After a excrement season he shouldn't have engaged with the fans after the win and he shouldn't have issued yet another dismal statement he should have just shut the intercourse up.

If you look back you will see that a lot of posters on this site were over the Moon that Slade was back. They were absolutely wetting themselves in the prospect that Slade would get us into League !. I hasten to add that I wasn't and thought he was a disaster waiting to happen after three sackings in two years but I was ridiculed in that belief !!

There’s one very important thing that Fenty needs to understand, and it’s this:

No one trusts him any more.

So even if he comes out and makes a valid point, the vast majority of fans - including me - won’t believe it.

He’s made a succession of bad decisions since 2001 that has created a situation where, today, we are in his debt.

Remember - the reason he is £2-3m out of pocket through these benign loans isn’t the fans’ doing, it’s his.

So we’re now at a point where whatever he says, however relevant or right he is, it won’t be taken positively.

He, John Fenty, is damaged goods. His reputation, his standing among the fans... it’s gone.

So if he does have anything positive to say, he should say it through another director whose reputation isn’t damaged.

In the 2005 general election Labour didn’t use Tony Blair’s image on any of their campaign material because he was damaged goods. It’d gone beyond the point if no return, so they focused on other areas of the party to sell in to voters.

Fenty has gone beyond the point of no return. He’ll never win, and no press statement will win over his detractors.  

Quoted from RichMariner

There’s one very important thing that Fenty needs to understand, and it’s this:

No one trusts him any more.

So even if he comes out and makes a valid point, the vast majority of fans - including me - won’t believe it.

He’s made a succession of bad decisions since 2001 that has created a situation where, today, we are in his debt.

Remember - the reason he is £2-3m out of pocket through these benign loans isn’t the fans’ doing, it’s his.

So we’re now at a point where whatever he says, however relevant or right he is, it won’t be taken positively.

He, John Fenty, is damaged goods. His reputation, his standing among the fans... it’s gone.

So if he does have anything positive to say, he should say it through another director whose reputation isn’t damaged.

In the 2005 general election Labour didn’t use Tony Blair’s image on any of their campaign material because he was damaged goods. It’d gone beyond the point if no return, so they focused on other areas of the party to sell in to voters.

Fenty has gone beyond the point of no return. He’ll never win, and no press statement will win over his detractors.  

And he's turned down an invitation to go on Sports Talk tonight according to Mike White on Twitter

How many people cheered decisions made by Fenty....they didn't work out but we thought they where good decisions at the time. Think people giving him a hard time should consider that we are back in the league, are no longer running a deficit and have a great building block for next season. Shouting abuse at the chairman quite frankly is embarrassing, easy to shout abuse not easy to stand up and be counted.

The only appointment I didn't want is Slade, we took a RISK on Jolly, and it's looking like its going to pay off. We need to build for the future, leave the abuse at home with your bottle of Stella and string vest.

UTM.

Quoted from GTFCNiles

How many people cheered decisions made by Fenty....they didn't work out but we thought they where good decisions at the time. Think people giving him a hard time should consider that we are back in the league, are no longer running a deficit and have a great building block for next season. Shouting abuse at the chairman quite frankly is embarrassing, easy to shout abuse not easy to stand up and be counted.

The only appointment I didn't want is Slade, we took a RISK on Jolly, and it's looking like its going to pay off. We need to build for the future, leave the abuse at home with your bottle of Stella and string vest.

UTM.

That's a bit flipping patronising, isn't it?

We need to build for the future? Yes, a stadium would be nice and a decent team would be even better, how many of them have we had in the last, say, 15 years?

Quoted from GTFCNiles

How many people cheered decisions made by Fenty....they didn't work out but we thought they where good decisions at the time. Think people giving him a hard time should consider that we are back in the league, are no longer running a deficit and have a great building block for next season. Shouting abuse at the chairman quite frankly is embarrassing, easy to shout abuse not easy to stand up and be counted.

The only appointment I didn't want is Slade, we took a RISK on Jolly, and it's looking like its going to pay off. We need to build for the future, leave the abuse at home with your bottle of Stella and string vest.

UTM.

He should have just left it after the game on Saturday and gone into the changing rooms, again whether he wanted to to not he's taken centre stage to the detriment of both himself and everyone associated with GTFC.

Quoted from Grim74

Shock, horror club owner engage’s with the fans! A very reasonable statement in my opinion he made some valid points, he summed up the season well and was positive about next season, some fans and a proven  small minority (most of which must be on this site) will never get off his back its called a Fenty syndrome, aided and abetted by the planks at Cod all Mighty, if we were to win the league next season Fenty would still be in the wrong, it’s like watching CNN!

Thank you for the statement John, I know a lot of fans are already optimistic about next season, only yesterday I spoke to a couple who said they would be buying season tickets for the very first time, My only minor criticism is as a shift worker a season ticket wouldn’t be worthwhile for me and my family so maybe this could be looked at, as there are many more in the same boat.

'a proven small minority'
Proven where???
Minority???

The Fenty bottom lickers are well in the minority now.
It's not just on here there is a majority that want Fenty nowhere near our club its over our whole fan base.
I have not heard one fan in support of Fenty at any game I've  been to this season(missed just two)

Quoted from RichMariner

In the 2005 general election Labour didn’t use Tony Blair’s image on any of their campaign material because he was damaged goods. It’d gone beyond the point if no return, so they focused on other areas of the party to sell in to voters.

They are still the same for many aspects in politics.

Everything else I agree  

Quoted from TAGG

'a proven small minority'
Proven where???
Minority???

The Fenty bottom lickers are well in the minority now.
It's not just on here there is a majority that want Fenty nowhere near our club its over our whole fan base.
I have not heard one fan in support of Fenty at any game I've  been to this season(missed just two)

So, if you are not one of the " Fenty Out " brigade , you are classed as an " bottom licker " ! What a pathetic statement from what one could assume is an intelligent person.

Quoted from rancido

So, if you are not one of the " Fenty Out " brigade , you are classed as an " bottom licker " ! What a pathetic statement from what one could assume is an intelligent person.

No not all the deluded people who can't see what harm he has done and is still doing to our club are bottom lickers but some you can pick right out, it turns my stomach.

I think the ‘Fenty out’ protest was pretty conclusive! Did you forgot about this Tagg? Can you not remember the one that was stoked up on social media? And then can you not remember how many turned up????
Well you’d  get more people turn up for a Gary Glitter book signing!