A Fan's View of The Huxford Takeover Bid!

By: Paul Dixon
Date: 28/06/2001

THE ANNOUNCEMENT that Bryan Huxford is making a takeover bid for Grimsby Town Football Club has certainly caused a stir amongst the fans. The Fishy provides a forum for fans to express their opinions and views. Paul Dixon a long time fan, gives his opinion on the recent developments.

Peter Furneaux's latest statement on the position of Grimsby Town is a perfect illustration of why the current board must do the honourable thing and fall on their own swords. His rhetoric makes it abundantly clear in which direction the club is currently heading under his chairmanship.

It is evident from the statement that there is no greater ambition than to merely retain First Division status. Whilst nobody can argue that this in itself is anything less than a great achievement for a club with such limited resources, it is hardly an aspiration which will bring hordes of fans flooding through the Blundell Park turnstiles.

The fact that the club has limited financial resources is another point which must be accepted. However, it is incredible to think that the current board are willing to rest on their laurels and 'make do' with the present situation when substantial investment is clearly the only thing which can drive the club forward.

Certain excerpts from Furneaux's statement perfectly exemplify the lack of foresight, ambition and willingness to take any chance whatsoever on giving the club's loyal supporters the opportunity to look forward to anything greater than finishing fourth from bottom of the First Division.

"The Board will support the manager WHEREVER POSSIBLE."

"There is no greater incentive for everyone connected with this club than to once again RETAIN OUR STATUS."

"It will be PRUDENT management of this money."

Waiting in the wings is Bryan Huxford - a man of whom everybody holds an opinion, be it good or bad - a man who is willing to wear his heart on his sleeve and look towards securing substantial financial investment whilst also harbouring ambitions of taking the club "to the next level".

With reports of a major European-based financial backer being lined up to pump a substantial cash injection into a Huxford-led revival of the club, it is clear that the fans - the people who are the lifeblood of the club - those who make financial survival possible - are overwhelmingly in favour of Mr Huxford gaining control of Grimsby Town.

Whilst Portsmouth, under the leadership of Milan Mandaric, are currently negotiating a deal to secure the services of French midfield genius David Ginola, Grimsby Town Football Club boasts of the fact that it is able to 'splash out' £200,000 on Stuart Campbell.

Unsurprisingly, sales of season-tickets at Fratton Park have gone through the roof! Mandaric has, by taking control of the club in a similar fashion to that proposed by Mr Huxford, generated massive interest by appointing one of the country's most widely respected coaches in Graham Rix, along with the introduction of Harry Redknapp.

This has all come about through investment and limited risk-taking and, as is the general rule, money is now coming to money.

Football clubs all over the country are beginning to wake up to the fact that massive change and adaption is necessary in order to merely survive in this day and age while Grimsby Town insists on believing that it is still 1977 and everything is well.

As the fittest and strongest assert themselves upon those which are slow to make the necessary changes, Grimsby Town Football Club simply must be allowed to evolve.

Otherwise it will die.

The Fishy Asks: Do you agree with Paul? Your replies to the Pontoonites Message Board. If you have an article please send it to us for publication.

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