The Future's Healthier

By: Dave Boylen
Date: 31/05/2008

THANK God the football club have come out and rubbished the rumours that have been flying round the town about manager Alan Buckley's health.

The stories I have heard have been ludicrous to say the least, it was only a couple of weeks ago that Alan was playing in the Chairman's team against the Supporters' Select Team which I managed, and there was Alan running about all over the hallowed turf of Blundell Park telling everybody where to run and calling them when they missed a open goal. Not only was he fit physically, but mentally his enthusiasm was very apparent for all to see.

Now that particular rumour is put to bed, lets now concentrate in getting some players in the club. I am sure that Alan and his assistant Stuart Watkiss will have their targets. Certainly a goal scorer is needed but we say that every year, It is very hard to attract players to Grimsby Town that I know. One of the reasons maybe is that the length of the contracts offered to a potential player is not long enough, because with the cost of moving from for example say Birmingham to Grimsby on a year's contract it is not worth the trouble of moving house and your family with all the hassle of schools for the children then maybe a year later having to do the same again if Grimsby do not extend your contract.

Grimsby Town to their credit did not turn its back on the debt it was in through the television situation and do a Leeds United who along with other clubs went into liquidation. John Fenty and the board rolled their sleeves up and fought like hell to pay the debt off and now can see light at the end of the tunnel because the debt is now beginning to disappear thankfully.

The squad at Town does need strengthening, in my opinion we have got to get a clever midfield player somebody who all the players can respect, a Wayne Burnett type of player, or a Dave Gilbert to give another example. These lads are not easy to find but if we could find that bit of extra money to persuade the right player to come to us somebody who can excite the fans from the midfield.

I have always encouraged the growth of our youth policy. Neil Woods the Youth Team boss and his team are doing a first class job the Danny North's, Ryan Bennett's of this world are very encouraging indeed. It takes time for these young lads to mature, in fact sometimes they take a step back to go forward, that is what Football is all about when you are a young lad you have to grow up very quickly and get the eye of the manager or else you are out on your heels.

This could be the year Grimsby Town do move in a positive way forward. The new ground seems to be taking heading in the right direction, surely the three legged pink elephant that was seen in Great Coates has moved onto pastures new. The television debt seems to be nearly paid of, all we need is the club to mount a challenge to get out of this League Two, which in my opinion with a bit of consistency Town could make with the right signings and a positive challenge. The support that Town get on the away games is second to none, and the amount of people who went to Wembley was unbelievable. Town have got to maintain that support, it is really appreciated by the Chairman and players at the football club, that I can assure you.

Dave Boylen GTFC 1966-1978

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