First of all may I extend a warm welcome to the Darlington supporters who have made the journey to Cleethorpes for today’s game.  The Darlington Supporters’ Trust has, since its establishment in 2001, attracted a healthy membership base.  This is generally in keeping with the trend of trusts whose clubs are going through turbulent times being more successful in attracting members than “slow burn” trusts such as ours – and Darlington have most certainly been through turbulent times!

Their former chairman was the infamous George Reynolds, a man with a well documented history even before being allowed to take the reins at a football club (surely a great advert for a fit and proper person test).  After placing the club in administration, Mr Reynolds was subsequently convicted of tax evasion and Darlington FC was then taken over by the Sterling Consortium (who were owed money for work done on the new stadium).  In 2006, however, it was all change again as another consortium took over. 

Let’s hope that there is now a period of stability at Darlington.  It is certainly a far cry from what has been happening at Grimsby over the last few years.  Despite poor performances on the pitch and financial worries off it, the club does have stability with a chairman who has the personal resources to keep the Mariners on an even keel.  Whilst we (and the chairman) are begging for further investment, we are at least in safe hands.

Of course, one thing Darlington have that we do not is a new stadium.  From a personal point of view, it would be an understatement to say that I have been disappointed by the lack of support and apparent indifference to any plans that Grimsby Town Football Club have put forward over the last ten years.

My “disappointment” was compounded by an article by Councillor Geoff Lowis (who is both a Cabinet Member and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing) that appeared on the Mariners fans’ site www.codalmighty.com.  Mr Lowis said;

“Over a year ago I sat down with our then Chief Executive, George Krawiec, and John Fenty and Peter Furneaux.  We put it to them that, while we wholeheartedly supported the current Great Coates development, they might like to consider a new stadium as part of our regeneration plans for Freeman Street.”

Curiously, in an interview with the Supporters Trust, Mr Fenty said that no meeting actually took place.  Furthermore, Mr Fenty claims that the only suggestion of an alternative venue was actually submitted by the club but rejected by North East Lincolnshire Council (and it was not Freeman Street).

If what Mr Fenty says is false, perhaps Mr Lowis can provide documentary evidence of the meeting?  If what he says is true, then one has to wonder what Mr Lowis’s motives were for saying this.  Although this affair has somehow managed to slip through the mainstream media net, it would appear to be an issue of some importance, not only with regard to the attitude of influential councillors with regards to the new stadium but also because somebody in this instance is not telling the truth!

Whatever happened, anyone who thinks the club can remain at Blundell Park is denying the sad truth that Grimsby Town Football Club cannot survive in the long term without a move to a new stadium. North East Lincolnshire Council needs to take heed of this fact and help the Club sooner rather than later.

Dave Otter - GTST Chairman