Fenty Out

As things stand, he’ll be getting carried shoulder high round Morecambe tonight.

And I’ll tell him why on my 464 mile round trip next week.

Quoted from Bristol Mariner

That’s it.

Another crass post .Jump on the bandwagon. Tell me who you want in his place? But of course you know loads of investors who are queueing up to invest in town !

Quoted from rancido

Another crass post .Jump on the bandwagon. Tell me who you want in his place? But of course you know loads of investors who are queueing up to invest in town !

What bandwagon? It’s the norm now. We could have gone bust and be better off than now. We’ve lost our soul....

Quoted from rancido

Another crass post .Jump on the bandwagon. Tell me who you want in his place? But of course you know loads of investors who are queueing up to invest in town !

I know plenty of people chucking money at the club every week but only one person taking £200k OUT every year!

I’d take any cuunt if they showed some desire to improve the club.

Careful what you wi.....oh bollox to that.

Quoted from Bristol Mariner

What bandwagon? It’s the norm now. We could have gone bust and be better off than now. We’ve lost our soul....

So you know for sure that if we had gone bust then we would have been better off by now! Now that is a crass statement .

Quoted from rancido

So you know for sure that if we had gone bust then we would have been better off by now! Now that is a crass statement .

There’s several who went into admin that are in substantially better situations than we are.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

There’s several who went into admin that are in substantially better situations than we are.

May I suggest you look at the non-league scene and note how many teams didn't. It's almost as if a lot of posters think that if you go into administration then the future is rosy and assured.

Quoted from rancido

May I suggest you look at the non-league scene and note how many teams didn't. It's almost as if a lot of posters think that if you go into administration then the future is rosy and assured.

Based on the last 16 years, I’d doubt that it could have been much worse.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Based on the last 16 years, I’d doubt that it could have been much worse.

Well how about like Stockport, Gateshead, Darlington Chesterfield, York,. They are definitely thriving after going through a hard time.

The trick was to go into administration before they changed the rules.

Thing is Fenty is in a type of a lottery situation, he wants his " benign " loans back so hangs in there hoping for football fortune, but by staying he could be in a position where he has to bail out the club even further, hence increasing his loan, whereas if he walked out today and wrote off the loans he accepts his losses. In some ways a tough decision to make.

Quoted from rancido

Well how about like Stockport, Gateshead, Darlington Chesterfield, York,. They are definitely thriving after going through a hard time.

Clubs who have been at the foot of the football league for generations, how can you lump us in with those.

Quoted from rancido

Well how about like Stockport, Gateshead, Darlington Chesterfield, York,. They are definitely thriving after going through a hard time.

Gateshead FFS, you're using them as a comparison? Bundle of hopeful joy you are..

Other clubs that have been in administration

Charlton
Middlesbrough
Tranmere
Newport
Walsall
Northampton
Exeter
Gillingham
Doncaster
Millwall
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace
Portsmouth
Hull
QPR
Bradford
Notts County
Barnsley
Leicester
Port Vale
Derby
Ipswich
Wimbledon
Cambridge
Rotherham
Southampton
Plymouth
Coventry

But as usual, you're always using the fear factor quoting the most unsuccessful clubs and worst case scenarios, rather than, god forbid, anything positive for GTFC to compare against or aspire to..

For all Fentys mistakes he’s kept our pride . He’s run Gtfc like clubs at our level should be run . It’s ok saying football clubs aren’t like normal businesses but at our level they are . If they’re not run sustainably they’ll go bust and no one outside Lincolnshire cares if we go .
Just ask Bolton . A much bigger club who are looking over the abyss after years of mis management

Quoted from Gaffer58

Thing is Fenty is in a type of a lottery situation, he wants his " benign " loans back so hangs in there hoping for football fortune, but by staying he could be in a position where he has to bail out the club even further, hence increasing his loan, whereas if he walked out today and wrote off the loans he accepts his losses. In some ways a tough decision to make.

It’s not even that. He isn’t some passive, powerless investor hoping for a slice of luck one day - he runs the illegitimate club! If he wants to get his money back he should start running the business better and generate some money that isn’t dependent on us digging up another Omar Bogle or Ryan Bennet.

He has the power to make a change but not the will.

Quoted from Bigdog

Gateshead FFS, you're using them as a comparison? Bundle of hopeful joy you are..

Other clubs that have been in administration

Charlton
Middlesbrough
Tranmere
Newport
Walsall
Northampton
Exeter
Gillingham
Doncaster
Millwall
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace
Portsmouth
Hull
QPR
Bradford
Notts County
Barnsley
Leicester
Port Vale
Derby
Ipswich
Wimbledon
Cambridge
Rotherham
Southampton
Plymouth
Coventry

But as usual, you always using the fear factor quote the most unsuccessful clubs and worst case scenarios, rather than, god forbid, anything positive for GTFC to compare against or aspire to..

I’m not sure administration is aspirational 😉

Quoted from Bigdog

Gateshead FFS, you're using them as a comparison? Bundle of hopeful joy you are..

Other clubs that have been in administration

Charlton
Middlesbrough
Tranmere
Newport
Walsall
Northampton
Exeter
Gillingham
Doncaster
Millwall
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace
Portsmouth
Hull
QPR
Bradford
Notts County
Barnsley
Leicester
Port Vale
Derby
Ipswich
Wimbledon
Cambridge
Rotherham
Southampton
Plymouth
Coventry

But as usual, you always using the fear factor quoting the most unsuccessful clubs and worst case scenarios, rather than, god forbid, anything positive for GTFC to compare against or aspire to..

Thanks for the information Bigdog, some very interesting names in that lot.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Thanks for the information Bigdog, some very interesting names in that lot.

And 4 of them are currently in the premier.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I’m not sure administration is aspirational 😉

Time machine back to 2002 with the hindsight of the past 17 years, I'm pretty sure it could  

Quoted from Marinerz93

Clubs who have been at the foot of the football league for generations, how can you lump us in with those.

Well seeing as a generation is usually classed as thirty years then that is a sweeping statement. As a point of interest , not that it will strengthen your point , just check out the 1968/69 season. Town finished second to bottom in Division 4. Also in the same league were Bradford Park Avenue, York City, Chesterfield, Aldershot, Chester, Workington, Wrexham, Darlington and Halifax. So 50  years ago we were in the same league as now , in such auspicious company and no JF to blame for our predicament.  Go back to 1954/55 season when we finished second to bottom in Division 3 (N). No Division 4 then so we effectivley finished joint second in the FL.  Of the 24 teams in that league 14 are now non-league.Yes we were "lumped " in with those teams 64 years ago. Fans seem to forget that our history in the time I have been alive (71 years) is not as illustrious and great as they seem to think. These are also times when no Director or Chairman would have stepped into the breach to save the club with loans (benign or otherwise ) or gifts to keep the club going.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

For all Fentys mistakes he’s kept our pride . He’s run Gtfc like clubs at our level should be run . It’s ok saying football clubs aren’t like normal businesses but at our level they are . If they’re not run sustainably they’ll go bust and no one outside Lincolnshire cares if we go .
Just ask Bolton . A much bigger club who are looking over the abyss after years of mis management

Pride?

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

Pride?

(insert link to the infamous fans forum video)

The Fenty  Years will be looked on in posterity as the 'lost Decades' . Jeez I just want it over already.

Quoted from Bigdog

Time machine back to 2002 with the hindsight of the past 17 years, I'm pretty sure it could  

Bloody ITV Digital!!!

Out of interest, if there are any clever accountants out there, could Fenty be using his loan to the club as a tax break on his personal accounts?

Quoted from rancido

So you know for sure that if we had gone bust then we would have been better off by now! Now that is a crass statement .

No but good chance

Quoted from Gaffer58

Out of interest, if there are any clever accountants out there, could Fenty be using his loan to the club as a tax break on his personal accounts?

I’m sure old Shutup will be all over it.

By the way... Imps are in L1......

Quoted from SalsaE70

By the way... Imps are in L1......

Do us a favour, take ya face for a shite...

Quoted from SalsaE70

By the way... Imps are in L1......

And the proper supporters are out celebrating whilst the plastics are at home trolling ......... don’t worry your tail will be hard again soon and you can carry on with what gratifies you most.

I do appreciate that Fenty has put a lot of his own money into the club and kept it from administration.

But if he's now expecting this money back then he should have the business sense to recognise that he'll never get it and just cut his losses.

To make the kind of profits that will help him recoup a large chunk of his benign loans means we'll have to be successful on the pitch and show innovation off it, and we're doing neither at the minute.

Check mate.

Quoted from RichMariner

I do appreciate that Fenty has put a lot of his own money into the club and kept it from administration.

But if he's now expecting this money back then he should have the business sense to recognise that he'll never get it and just cut his losses.

To make the kind of profits that will help him recoup a large chunk of his benign loans means we'll have to be successful on the pitch and show innovation off it, and we're doing neither at the minute.

Check mate.

Stale mate would be the more apt term for it.

Quoted from rancido

Well seeing as a generation is usually classed as thirty years then that is a sweeping statement. As a point of interest , not that it will strengthen your point , just check out the 1968/69 season. Town finished second to bottom in Division 4. Also in the same league were Bradford Park Avenue, York City, Chesterfield, Aldershot, Chester, Workington, Wrexham, Darlington and Halifax. So 50  years ago we were in the same league as now , in such auspicious company and no JF to blame for our predicament.  Go back to 1954/55 season when we finished second to bottom in Division 3 (N). No Division 4 then so we effectivley finished joint second in the FL.  Of the 24 teams in that league 14 are now non-league.Yes we were "lumped " in with those teams 64 years ago. Fans seem to forget that our history in the time I have been alive (71 years) is not as illustrious and great as they seem to think. These are also times when no Director or Chairman would have stepped into the breach to save the club with loans (benign or otherwise ) or gifts to keep the club going.

Going back to previous poor spells, what about when Town were in the top flight and finishing 5th, no lets hark back to doom and gloom, tell me in our history give me a break down of how long we have spent in each league, because when I last checked we had spent night on 50 years at Championship level, and around 12 in the top flight. The fact we have spent more time in the top flight than non league tells me we should be top half of league 1 to bottom half of the Championship under the right stewardship.

Quoted from Marinerz93

Going back to previous poor spells, what about when Town were in the top flight and finishing 5th, no lets hark back to doom and gloom, tell me in our history give me a break down of how long we have spent in each league, because when I last checked we had spent night on 50 years at Championship level, and around 12 in the top flight. The fact we have spent more time in the top flight than non league tells me we should be top half of league 1 to bottom half of the Championship under the right stewardship.

I totally agree on where we should be and yes with the right stewardship we could be there again. The reason I mentioned previous poor seasons was because they happened in my lifetime and they counter the perceived idea that bad times have only occured recently and are peculiar to the management of the club by JF and no other regime in our past. Yes we were in the top flight of English football but seeing as that finished in the late 1940's that is beyond my recall.

Quoted from rancido

I totally agree on where we should be and yes with the right stewardship we could be there again. The reason I mentioned previous poor seasons was because they happened in my lifetime and they counter the perceived idea that bad times have only occured recently and are peculiar to the management of the club by JF and no other regime in our past. Yes we were in the top flight of English football but seeing as that finished in the late 1940's that is beyond my recall.

We've never had such a sustained spell as bad as this though.  67-70 is probably the last time. Other than that it's been brief spells in the 4th tier.

Quoted from rancido

I totally agree on where we should be and yes with the right stewardship we could be there again. The reason I mentioned previous poor seasons was because they happened in my lifetime and they counter the perceived idea that bad times have only occured recently and are peculiar to the management of the club by JF and no other regime in our past. Yes we were in the top flight of English football but seeing as that finished in the late 1940's that is beyond my recall.

Fair comments, for those of us who don't remember those times there are still some old boys who still go who do, isn't that right barra  

Quoted from KingstonMariner

We've never had such a sustained spell as bad as this though.  67-70 is probably the last time. Other than that it's been brief spells in the 4th tier.

I think I’m correct in saying the first time we dropped into the fourth tier was 1968 when we had four seasons there before Lawrie Mac got us up

Our next spell was from 77 to 79 when John Newman got promotion

The next was from 88 until 90 when under AB1 we were back going up

So there were 8 seasons only at this level until we dropped down again in 2004.

It means 10 seasons now at this level ( including 19-20  in with this ) plus of course the six out in the conference

This is definitely the lowest ebb in our history but all things must pass.....just hope I’ll see Town at a higher level again one day, in the years I’ve got left

UTM GTID

Football is played in far more places than it was in even the 70s and 80s. If you look back on quality papers in decades gone by it got a fraction of the coverage does today. Posh southerners used to turn their nose up at football now it's an establishment sport. You really are not comparing like with like if you are expecting town to emulate what they did in the past when they now have to compete with far more affluent towns and cities who (if they were even built) once spurned the game. And we have to compete with a ground built in the 19th century.

We have been so stagnant for such a long time and when you get to my age (59) I would be happy to take a risk on a new owner even if they don't meet Mr Fentys criteria.

Selfish...probably...but what have we got to lose before we return to the tinpot under Mr Fenty.

If we don’t get investment, or a new ground, both of which seem unlikely at present, then it’s just a matter of time before we become non league again. Depressing, but I can’t see any other outcome.

Going nowhere slowly.

I really can't understand how anyone can think ranking in the bottom 12 league places for a decade and then another half dozen out of the league all together is anything but completely unacceptable.

Ok we've had a smattering of bad periods over the last 80 years but this is sustained over almost two decades now.  We need a fresh start. Desperately.

Quoted from NorthseaMariner

If we don’t get investment, or a new ground, both of which seem unlikely at present, then it’s just a matter of time before we become non league again. Depressing, but I can’t see any other outcome.

They’ll be no major investment until a new ground deal is signed and the work started.

They’ll be no new ground until we get major investors..... and so on and so on.....

Whilst this perpetuating stagnation continues the trap door will always threaten especially when the clubs coming up have the financial muscle of the likes of Salford and a few others in that league that have more cash, unity and ambition than our current exec.

I've not posted on here for years but felt like echoing what other posters have said. I just get the feeling we'll end up sleepwalking our way back to oblivion as we don't seem to have learned anything from those last seasons before we ended up in the Conference or whatever it was called then.

I think it'll be difficult to make any progress until we have a new ground and I've always thought Freeman Street would be the best place. I'm not sure I'll ever see a new ground.

I think ST sales will be well down next season. I've pretty much had enough pain now myself. I can consider myself fortunate that my first season was 1979/80,having been hooked on my first game at home to Blackpool, and have seen some great Grimsby sides. To watch the ruin of this club over the last 15+ years is so saddening.

The fans have showed unbelievable patience by and large given that standards have been unacceptable for a long time now. I travel in from Donny for home games and since last year have had no family in Grimsby and keeping an eye out for them was my justification for renewing each year. I'll look at the fixtures for next season and what is happening at the club before considering renewal in the summer.

I lived in west London for many years and followed Brentford (and still do)when not going to Town games and I did plenty of them. They had problems with relocating and made sure they improved Griffin Park even when they had the go ahead to move. Blundell Park is just shabby and that's shameful.

Quoted from GrimRob

Football is played in far more places than it was in even the 70s and 80s. If you look back on quality papers in decades gone by it got a fraction of the coverage does today. Posh southerners used to turn their nose up at football now it's an establishment sport. You really are not comparing like with like if you are expecting town to emulate what they did in the past when they now have to compete with far more affluent towns and cities who (if they were even built) once spurned the game. And we have to compete with a ground built in the 19th century.

I sort of agree. Football used to be the working man’s sport and while clubs might have been owned by shareholders, most of the cash for transfers came from income. Crowds were gigantic and even if admission was low the cash generated atmost grounds in the top 2 leagues was substantial. A few clubs like Arsenal and Sunderland did have the extra a rich shareholder brings but even they needed the massive gates they got at Highbury and Roker Park. To me that is the biggest difference and the biggest factor now preventing clubs like Town getting back in the big time. Getting there means money, not necessarily huge money, see Huddersfield and Norwich, but still big money because attendances will never pay enough and TV money only happens for the successful. It needs more than Town will ever get from the current owner.

But if you get to the top what then? You have to keep paying out to stand still. Burnley, Brighton, Cardiff etc. Don’t appear to spend a lot but that is only compared to the top 6. There are no guarantees either, Fulham spent a fortune and see where they are. Clubs that did scrap their way to the Prem are not guaranteed a future. Look at Hull, Barnsley, Bradford, Portsmouth etc who have all done it and sunk back.

If there is an answer it is that there is no answer! There is no magic wand, just a happy combination of circumstances of which a rich backer is still on balance the most important.

https://twitter.com/GrimsbyTownPR/status/1117400477715587072

An eyewatering amount compared to the often quoted interest saved on the interest free director's loan..

Is it just me or are there double standards at play?

"I lent the club 2m so I'm entitled to get it back"

"The club was in my sole custodianship when it lost out on over 5m of income when it dropped out of the league but I'm not personally responsible for a single penny of it"

Old news I know, but still doesn't sit well with me..

Where does the 2 million figure even come from, I mean I thought the tax debt was like 750k?

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

Where does the 2 million figure even come from, I mean I thought the tax debt was like 750k?

Some of the extra he leant covered losses built up after the tax debt.

£1.5m losses in the years 2010-16 inclusive.

There've been profits in following years but also £400k worth of directors' loans paid back.

Go figure.

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

I think I’m correct in saying the first time we dropped into the fourth tier was 1968 when we had four seasons there before Lawrie Mac got us up

Our next spell was from 77 to 79 when John Newman got promotion

The next was from 88 until 90 when under AB1 we were back going up

So there were 8 seasons only at this level until we dropped down again in 2004.

It means 10 seasons now at this level ( including 19-20  in with this ) plus of course the six out in the conference

This is definitely the lowest ebb in our history but all things must pass.....just hope I’ll see Town at a higher level again in one day in the years I’ve got left

UTM GTID

You're probably right, but it's just as likely to be a change for the worse.

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

I think I’m correct in saying the first time we dropped into the fourth tier was 1968 when we had four seasons there before Lawrie Mac got us up

Our next spell was from 77 to 79 when John Newman got promotion

The next was from 88 until 90 when under AB1 we were back going up

So there were 8 seasons only at this level until we dropped down again in 2004.

It means 10 seasons now at this level ( including 19-20  in with this ) plus of course the six out in the conference

This is definitely the lowest ebb in our history but all things must pass.....just hope I’ll see Town at a higher level again in one day in the years I’ve got left

UTM GTID

But we spent several seasons in the 3rd Division (N) prior to that, which was the lowest Football League for Northern teams. When you finished bottom of that you had to seek re-election and if you failed you were relegated to non-league.

Quoted from rancido

But we spent several seasons in the 3rd Division (N) prior to that, which was the lowest Football League for Northern teams. When you finished bottom of that you had to seek re-election and if you failed you were relegated to non-league.

Correct. We finished in the bottom half of Third Division North four times and once in the bottom half of Third Division South which would be the equivalent of being in the fourth tier. Even taking these seasons into account, before the turn of the century, we spent far less time in the fourth tier than any other division, let alone the fifth tier..

Quoted from rancido

But we spent several seasons in the 3rd Division (N) prior to that, which was the lowest Football League for Northern teams. When you finished bottom of that you had to seek re-election and if you failed you were relegated to non-league.

True enough we were in there 1950-56 but 3rd Division (N) and 3rd Division (S) were very hard to get out of because there was only the one promotion spot for each. We finished 2nd in 1951/2 and if we had been promoted then life would have been different I suspect. For one thing Shankly would have stayed longer. Once DIv 4 came in, it made movement a lot more likely.

I wonder if anyone has done research into double promotions and relegations because clubs quite often do that as Lincoln and Luton are doing now.

O.K.   If J.S.F. said that's it ,emptied his desk and walked-wiping off his loans but keeping his shares-what would happen next

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

I wonder if anyone has done research into double promotions and relegations because clubs quite often do that as Lincoln and Luton are doing now.

Luton, yes, Lincoln, no.  

Quoted from golfer

O.K.   If J.S.F. said that's it ,emptied his desk and walked-wiping off his loans but keeping his shares-what would happen next

Well, the cost of buying control of GTFC would be reduced by 1.6m for a start which would make it more attractive and leave potential investors with more money to invest in the club rather than pay JF off. Of course, he could hold them to ransom by putting a higher price on his controlling shares but I don't think he's that kind of person to do that. To my knowledge, the day to day running of the club wouldn't change too much and there's a few hundred grand left from the Bogle money so no overdraft to secure..Ideal scenario would be for JF to write off the loans and remain in place until a takeover for stability, but if he walked I don't think it would destabilise the club too much, if at all. In fact, it may boost season ticket sales and put the club on a sounder financial footing. It wouldn't be armageddon, that's for sure..

Quoted from Bigdog

Gateshead FFS, you're using them as a comparison? Bundle of hopeful joy you are..

Other clubs that have been in administration

Charlton
Middlesbrough
Tranmere
Newport
Walsall
Northampton
Exeter
Gillingham
Doncaster
Millwall
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace
Portsmouth
Hull
QPR
Bradford
Notts County
Barnsley
Leicester
Port Vale
Derby
Ipswich
Wimbledon
Cambridge
Rotherham
Southampton
Plymouth
Coventry

But as usual, you're always using the fear factor quoting the most unsuccessful clubs and worst case scenarios, rather than, god forbid, anything positive for GTFC to compare against or aspire to..

Didn't Leeds go into administration ......seem to remember them signing papers at half time of last match of season  when they was going down......and that's when rules changed to carry points deduction to next season

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

Where does the 2 million figure even come from, I mean I thought the tax debt was like 750k?

Why not give him a call and ask him to itemise his liabilities to the club? I did. Interesting conversation that was...!

Quoted from Brazilnut

Didn't Leeds go into administration ......seem to remember them signing papers at half time of last match of season  when they was going down......and that's when rules changed to carry points deduction to next season

Yes Leeds too.. and maybe a few others..

Quoted from Biccys

Why not give him a call and ask him to itemise his liabilities to the club? I did. Interesting conversation that was...!

I'm sure!

Sorry I was being deliberately facetious with the question, I was trying to emphasise that the debt seemed smaller prior to the current boards tenure.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Some of the extra he leant covered losses built up after the tax debt.

£1.5m losses in the years 2010-16 inclusive.

There've been profits in following years but also £400k worth of directors' loans paid back.

Go figure.

This is what really, really winds me up.  Those losses came about because of the poor management of the club on his watch, there's no other reasoning for the losses.  You can argue decreased revenue, you can argue increased costs...they all came about when he was signing the cheques.  

It's the often used example and I fully accept that it's more of an exception than the rule, but Accrington managed success last season, they made a profit and had approx. half of our income levels through the gate. Then of course there's the knock ons beyond ticket sales such as food, drink etc. bought in the ground.  You would imagine that with extra people going through the gate you also have an increase in merchandise plus with a greater captive audience your advertising sales should be better too.

Forget the success on the pitch.  That's never guaranteed, regardless of what you spend.  You can spend loads and spend it badly.  But if a club like Accrington can make a profit, without any player sales of note, we should be absolutely rolling in it.  Instead we've relied on footballing fortune to post a decent profit.  You take away the Bogle sale and what profit have we made in recent years?  

This club is dying with Fenty in charge, dying a slow and painful death.  We have the 9th highest average attendance in the league but if everything is to be believed something like the 17th/18th highest playing budget.  Why?  It's not a perfect science and when you've got clubs like Mansfield who are throwing money at it, you would expect a few anomalies but not to that extent.
We have to scrape around with a relegation battle budget because the club is run like a closed shop.  No lessons are ever learned, I don't mind mistakes but when they're repeated time and time again it's just lazy.  

Fenty has overseen something like 15 years of decline.  I fear that this summer will mark the biggest apathy towards the club in a long, long time.  Even during the dark days of the Conference there was hope and belief we would return.  Now the mood is of total acceptance that the club is heading absolutely nowhere.

It's becoming more and more apparent that the club is run on a shoestring at the minute.  A savvy chairman would use this as  a marketing ploy.    We've got a young and local squad that other clubs would see as a marketing opportunity.  Clifton, Wright, Rose, Pollock, Battersby, Buckley, Vernam (relatively local) and Burrell. should all be on the front of the season ticket packs that should have gone out two months ago.  The new generation, home grown and proud to wear the shirt.  Instead we're going to fall into the summer with total apathy and struggle to break 2,000 season tickets sold.  

A complete review of the club is needed, from top and bottom.  What departments are performing and why aren't they.  What more can we do to sell season tickets, what percentage of our crowd is under a certain age and then over a certain age or how far do they live from the ground?  Do we have a next generation of fans getting an interest in the club from a young age?   Maybe if we managed ticket sales on a system more technical than an A4 lined book we would have this at our finger tips.  

I don't doubt that Fenty has the best interest of the club at heart, or that he genuinely believes he's doing the right thing.  But the hard fact is that he isn't doing the right thing.  He's burying his head in the sand and we're stagnating, at best.  Time to leave John.  Time to let someone else have a go and bring fresh ideas to the table.  

I can sense your passion and frustration. You’re so right about playing budgets aren’t everything. Just look at Notts County, massive budget but bottom. Think Accrington are a great model to look at how they not only survive but prosper.
I must admit , as an Imp, the previous Chairman did much to keep us afloat but we needed some new blood and new ambition to complement the change. You also need a bit of luck like we had in our FA Cup rum and use the money wisely.. good luck for next year

Quoted from rancido

But we spent several seasons in the 3rd Division (N) prior to that, which was the lowest Football League for Northern teams. When you finished bottom of that you had to seek re-election and if you failed you were relegated to non-league.

Point taken Rancido but that's also a bit like saying when there were only two divisions we were t a low ebb by being in the bottom one

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Grimsby_Town_F.C._seasons

Looking back to the early to mid fifties we had five seasons in Divison 3 North, three of which we did pretty well and only one where we didn't

I don't know what was going on in the 54-55 season but surely every team at some stage has been down at the bottom so it wasn't as if it was a sustained depressed period ( though to anyone who'd witnessed us in the top flight, maybe it did feel that way    )

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

I'm sure!

Sorry I was being deliberately facetious with the question, I was trying to emphasise that the debt seemed smaller prior to the current boards tenure.

Yeah, I got it.

My point still stands.

Knowing that you've lent some money yet not knowing what the sum repaid to you in the club's accounts constitutes towards that debt is worrying to me. And no, it wasn't explained in the fans forum or AGM either, as he claimed.

Stinks of fish to me.

Quoted from diehardmariner

This is what really, really winds me up.  Those losses came about because of the poor management of the club on his watch, there's no other reasoning for the losses.  You can argue decreased revenue, you can argue increased costs...they all came about when he was signing the cheques.  

Not just signing the cheques but demanding to be in control. Let's not forget he got GIVEN £250,000 worth of shares. When you add that to the extra losses you get to £1.75m. Now how much has he bailed the club out?

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Not just signing the cheques but demanding to be in control. Let's not forget he got GIVEN £250,000 worth of shares. When you add that to the extra losses you get to £1.75m. Now how much has he bailed the club out?

Let’s not forget the 5 million revenue we allegedly lost whilst non league- that would have paid his loans off more than once.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Not just signing the cheques but demanding to be in control. Let's not forget he got GIVEN £250,000 worth of shares. When you add that to the extra losses you get to £1.75m. Now how much has he bailed the club out?

It was £500,000 actually

Quoted from Green27

It was £500,000 actually

Didn’t agree with that tbh

Quoted from Green27

It was £500,000 actually

No. The total of shares give to the Trust by Mike Parker was 500,000. Half of which was given to JF.

Ipswich ST's price out tomorrow they expect to lose £9 million by been relegated,

BUT

I bet they will have some good offers on,

So come on Grimsby plan ahead and get some interest going.

Fwiw a relative of mine who moves in relatively  exalted circles was telling me of some stuff he's been told.haven't got any evidence to back this up but equally he doesn't bullshiite . Firstly he's friends with someone who is v. Close to the Ashley family and there is nothing at present coming out of them regarding town. However his info was that there was a gent who came from gy had made an absolute mint in the city who was prepared to invest, not because he loved gtf c but wanted to give something back to the town.
With regards to the stadium her also heard that if the redevelopment of Freemo went ahead network rail were prepared to bring Gy docks station up to an appropriate standard. Furthermore on the back of that news apparently ABP had unexpectedly then offered to sell some land in order to assist.
Again i stress that this is just stuff he's been told but I wonder if this chimed with anything else that anyone's heard?

Quoted from forza ivano

Fwiw a relative of mine who moves in relatively  exalted circles was telling me of some stuff he's been told.haven't got any evidence to back this up but equally he doesn't bullshiite . Firstly he's friends with someone who is v. Close to the Ashley family and there is nothing at present coming out of them regarding town. However his info was that there was a gent who came from gy had made an absolute mint in the city who was prepared to invest, not because he loved gtf c but wanted to give something back to the town.
With regards to the stadium her also heard that if the redevelopment of Freemo went ahead network rail were prepared to bring Gy docks station up to an appropriate standard. Furthermore on the back of that news apparently ABP had unexpectedly then offered to sell some land in order to assist.
Again i stress that this is just stuff he's been told but I wonder if this chimed with anything else that anyone's heard?

There was a rumour on here a while back about Ashley's brother living local and willing to invest ,

If that happens we should start singing for his brother to invest as well.

" you fat illegitimate come into our town "    maybe not  

Quoted from forza ivano

Fwiw a relative of mine who moves in relatively  exalted circles was telling me of some stuff he's been told.haven't got any evidence to back this up but equally he doesn't bullshiite . Firstly he's friends with someone who is v. Close to the Ashley family and there is nothing at present coming out of them regarding town. However his info was that there was a gent who came from gy had made an absolute mint in the city who was prepared to invest, not because he loved gtf c but wanted to give something back to the town.
With regards to the stadium her also heard that if the redevelopment of Freemo went ahead network rail were prepared to bring Gy docks station up to an appropriate standard. Furthermore on the back of that news apparently ABP had unexpectedly then offered to sell some land in order to assist.
Again i stress that this is just stuff he's been told but I wonder if this chimed with anything else that anyone's heard?

It`s all gone very quiet last 3-4 Months which in my experience is actually a good thing and means something is happening behind the scenes. Oddly enough me being one of Fenty`s critics I actually hope he is involved in anything stadium related I think he would be invaluable highlighting the shortfalls of BP etc.

I've not really posted anything about the stadium rumours, given the history. And I've tried to keep a lid on it.

But there's something about Grimsby Docks railway station being the stop for GTFC which is just so right.

I dunno why this particular aspect has struck a chord with me.

Quoted from grimsby pete

Ipswich ST's price out tomorrow they expect to lose £9 million by been relegated,

BUT

I bet they will have some good offers on,

So come on Grimsby plan ahead and get some interest going.

Time for your meds Pete  

Quoted from grimsby pete

Ipswich ST's price out tomorrow they expect to lose £9 million by been relegated,

BUT

I bet they will have some good offers on,

So come on Grimsby plan ahead and get some interest going.

They’ll make a few bob at home to Leeds last game of the season.
Talk of giving Leeds 10,000 tickets to save a plod nightmare.

Should the results go wrong though it will cost a fortune in repairs !!

Quoted from Civvy at last

They’ll make a few bob at home to Leeds last game of the season.
Talk of giving Leeds 10,000 tickets to save a plod nightmare.

Should the results go wrong though it will cost a fortune in repairs !!

By hook or by crook, there will be nearer 20k Leeds inside Portman Road that day..

Quoted from Bigdog

By hook or by crook, there will be nearer 20k Leeds inside Portman Road that day..

They will all have to pass my village to get there,

I think I will stay in that day.

I have a recurring dream. I win 75million on the EuroLottery and contact Town but I have to convince the management I am not a foreign money launderer. That done, I offer £50 million to get the club on its feet and build a new stadium. No silly wages but good enough to attract some top players to get us promoted. MJ to stay as the manager as a reward for his good work but he will need to deliver the results. I would settle for mid table in the Championship as the ultimate aim. A dream but surely if the likes of Rotherham and Doncaster can do it why can't we? You never know.

Quoted from hampshiremariner

I have a recurring dream. I win 75million on the EuroLottery and contact Town but I have to convince the management I am not a foreign money launderer. That done, I offer £50 million to get the club on its feet and build a new stadium. No silly wages but good enough to attract some top players to get us promoted. MJ to stay as the manager as a reward for his good work but he will need to deliver the results. I would settle for mid table in the Championship as the ultimate aim. A dream but surely if the likes of Rotherham and Doncaster can do it why can't we? You never know.

But who would you get in to run the club ie Chief Executive?

Quoted from rancido

But who would you get in to run the club ie Chief Executive?

Someone better than what we’ve had recently.

Quoted from rancido

But who would you get in to run the club ie Chief Executive?

You pay good money to get an experienced and go getting Chief Executive, who has day to day control of affairs. Someone with charisma, an easy style and the ability to  get things done and bring people on board.

To be honest, we need a whole new boardroom, made up of people with the requsite skills to turn the club around; in turn they would employ people with the drive and energy needed to drag the club out of the doldrums.

However you package it, we need a new start - and pretty quick if we are not to lose a lot of season ticket holders and the few floating fans we do have.

What Fenty tends to do when things are going south is to sack the manager to give a short term lift to the club, but it needs much more than that now.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

You pay good money to get an experienced and go getting Chief Executive, who has day to day control of affairs. Someone with charisma, an easy style and the ability to  get things done and bring people on board.

To be honest, we need a whole new boardroom, made up of people with the requsite skills to turn the club around; in turn they would employ people with the drive and energy needed to drag the club out of the doldrums.

However you package it, we need a new start - and pretty quick if we are not to lose a lot of season ticket holders and the few floating fans we do have.

What Fenty tends to do when things are going south is to sack the manager to give a short term lift to the club, but it needs much more than that now.

I totally agree but it still comes down to making a decision which could go either way - success or failure. Then you have the question on who decides who is suitable to make that selection process in the first place?

Quoted from rancido

I totally agree but it still comes down to making a decision which could go either way - success or failure. Then you have the question on who decides who is suitable to make that selection process in the first place?

People point to Fenty being the one constant over the years but so too has Ian Fleming. What is his business background and what does he actually do for the good of the club?

Quoted from rancido

I totally agree but it still comes down to making a decision which could go either way - success or failure. Then you have the question on who decides who is suitable to make that selection process in the first place?

A clean sweep - all the directors swept away with new directors bringing in their own trusted people to run the club, and some new people with fresh ideas and energy. The current lot should not be near any of it, making decisions or otherwise.

It won't happen, but it makes me feel a bit better having a daydream.

In a perfect world, it would take somebody in the mould of Adam Pearson who got Hull moving in the right direction. Somebody of that ilk, who can pull a lot of strings but hasn't necessarily got the funds themselves. I met him once and he was a great communicator, a very likeable guy and most importantly he got things done.

I haven't followed his progress since Hull so I don't know whether he has continued to be a success or not, but he was when I met him and somebody like that would do wonders here.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

People point to Fenty being the one constant over the years but so too has Ian Fleming. What is his business background and what does he actually do for the good of the club?

Wasn’t his dad Chief Exec before him?

I point you to Bolton
In one hell of a mess, has just been sold
Arguably with a lot more potential than ourselves and with a relatively new stadium, etc.
Let's see how long the new owner lasts, he was after Pompey not so long back so not a Bolton fan.
JSF is no ones ideal head but he is solid.

Well if things stay as they are, we are going nowhere, other than at some point, down into non-league.

Quoted from Cod Cheeks

I point you to Bolton

JSF is no ones ideal head but he is solid.

Yay, we're a solid lower lg2/Non league club!