Grimsby Town - Operation Promotion

[Jemfy]

It might be a bit tinpot to get out the begging bowl, but you can't deny it's been effective! At least you're begging for the money before spending it. Almost responsible financial irresponsibility

 

[Gladders]

Except GTFC didn't beg for it, the trust and fans raised it to add to the playing budget

 

[CPC1978]

Really impressed that Grimsby fans raised over £100,000 for their club - that sort of money will make a difference at National League level and the supporters who dug into the pocket deserve to see their team have a successful season. Seems like the Mariners' pre-season results have almost been too impressive beating all these league sides!

 

[Nansan]

Have to say its a very impressive effort by the fans, they should be congratulated and it might just make the difference and see them get a promotion this year. I wonder what Mr Fenty's thoughts are and whether he is wondering how much they would raise if he decided to put less in each year.

 

[Davidimp]

If its paid for Bogle or Amond and their goals get you up then its worked.

 

[Mr Scooty]

Has any of this money been used yet?
If it has, do you guys know how much?

 

[GodsGift]

Has any of this money been used yet?
If it has, do you guys know how much?

That's the issue, I doubt they'll ever find out. The fans will just have to trust Hurst to spend it wisely.

 

[pontoonlew]

I think it was already accounted for within the budget, swear I read that most of it has been spent.

I don't think we'll ever know exactly what difference it made, just know that we did something.

 

[Gladders]

Has any of this money been used yet?
If it has, do you guys know how much?

Hurst said the other week that things like getting Andy Warrington as a full time goalkeeping coach wouldn't have happened without the extra money, so yes some of the money has already been spent or at least budgeted for. I also doubt we would have signed Bogle without the extra money. Also we have signed a few players on longer than year contracts this season too which we haven't been doing in recent years.

Don't forget that our budget was already apparently increased by 10% this season anyway before the crowdfunder so were probably looking at around £1.1m this season and I guess most would have been spent but am sure there is still some left for strengthening with loans if needed and in Jan, Hurst also still wants another striker.

 

[Southern Shayman]

That's the issue, I doubt they'll ever find out. The fans will just have to trust Hurst to spend it wisely.

And trust that it hasn't just reduced Fenty's bill..

 

[Gladders]

Have to say its a very impressive effort by the fans, they should be congratulated and it might just make the difference and see them get a promotion this year. I wonder what Mr Fenty's thoughts are and whether he is wondering how much they would raise if he decided to put less in each year.

Fenty chooses to set a competitive budget each year with a certain loss that he will cover, seems to be usually a loss of around 300k ish. The money has gone in to make the playing budget larger so Fenty's loss will still be roughly the same. I can't imagine the fans would keep raising this amount each season, especially if we had a poor season, however it does show that if Fenty ever walks away we now have the Mariners trust on the GTFC board and shows the fans could raise the money to keep the club alive if needed, seen as we can raise that much just to sign a couple extra quality players.

 

[CrazyImp]

Not sure why everyone's getting excited over Amond - 1 in 4 at L2 level? Sure he'll find it easier in this division, but it doesn't reek of a signing that will make the difference.

Bogle will either be a disaster or score 30, no middle ground. Our neighbours have a strong spine no doubt and may win the title on the back of the division being crap, but they've taken two risks up front, especially the former.

 

[B2TF]

Forest Green are a village club and traditional non league team backed by a wealthy benefactor. Grimsby are a traditional league team backed by a wealthy benefactor. The only difference between the two nowadays are that Grimsby have a larger fanbase. This is like two bald men arguing over a comb.

What rot!! Grimsby WILL be a Football League club again, with or without a benefactor. FGR have absolutely no fucking chance.

 

[les.gtfc]

Not sure why everyone's getting excited over Amond - 1 in 4 at L2 level? Sure he'll find it easier in this division, but it doesn't reek of a signing that will make the difference.

Bogle will either be a disaster or score 30, no middle ground. Our neighbours have a strong spine no doubt and may win the title on the back of the division being crap, but they've taken two risks up front, especially the former.

Amond has 7 goals in 6 pre-season friendlies which might suggest otherwise. Definitely looks a very good player in pre-season with lots of intelligent play, movement and good finishing,

 

[Gladders]

Not sure why everyone's getting excited over Amond - 1 in 4 at L2 level? Sure he'll find it easier in this division, but it doesn't reek of a signing that will make the difference.

Bogle will either be a disaster or score 30, no middle ground. Our neighbours have a strong spine no doubt and may win the title on the back of the division being crap, but they've taken two risks up front, especially the former.

10 goals a season on average at lge 2 level suggests 15 comfortably at conference level. From pre-season goals it seems he is intelligent and knows where the goal is, rather like Connell when he was here in his first spell. Could be the type of player that will score plenty at Conference level against poorer defenders and keepers, only 27 as well so should be in his prime, not past it and on the way down.

Bogle is a risk we all know that, if he can make the step up I've no doubt he would comfortably score 20+, Pittman is also good for double figures and many more if he can stay fit for longer than last season.

There's goals in the strikers this season which there wasn't last season, so we have kept the defence and midfield and strengthened in attack. Personally though based on pre-season I'd put my money on Amond being our top scorer, and see Bogle as being the bigger risk not Amond.

 

[CrazyImp]

Ah I see, more posters actually taking value from pre-season. This is certainly interesting.

Yet to be convinced but we'll see.

 

[chairboyexile]

Pittman is also good for double figures and many more if he can stay fit for longer than last season.

John paul pitman the only thing he is good for is cleaning Bogles' boots

 

[pontoonlew]

We've played strong teams this pre season and beaten the lot of them. Pre season obviously isn't the be all and end all but you can definitely gauge some things from pre season and it's seemingly been our best performances in pre season for a long while.

Connell had a pretty poor record in the league but was far and away the most intelligent classy striker we've had at this level. Amond seems to fall into the same category and the signs are there that he's shining in a side that performed so well last year. We've kept almost every single player from that squad and I'd not swap any of our 3 cbs for anybody in the league, genuinely wouldn't.

I'd say we need another striker and possibly a central midfielder though.

 

[Gladders]

Ah I see, more posters actually taking value from pre-season. This is certainly interesting.

Yet to be convinced but we'll see.

You can't take results from pre season but you can certainly take away what sort of player someone is, and as I said he is intelligent and knows where the goal is just like Connell was. If he gets half the goals Connell did it will be a good signing.

John paul pitman the only thing he is good for is cleaning Bogles' boots

He got double figures last season despite missing half the season!

 

[EnglishRed]

What rot!! Grimsby WILL be a Football League club again, with or without a benefactor. FGR have absolutely no fucking chance.

Grimsby could get promoted without a benefactor sure, FGR without a benefactor would probably end up getting relegated.

But that wasn't the point I was making.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Well I'm sticking 2 quid on Grimsby for promotion this season. Don't let me down lads!

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

I don't know why people are even touting Bogle as a risk. No signing is ever a dead cert, we could've spent the money on Dale Jennings and there'd be no guarantee he'd bag loads. Bogle is a player that has torn his previous league apart and the step up isn't exactly huge, it's just one league that is half full with similar teams he's used to playing against. There's nothing to suggest he'll flop imo. I don't think he'll hit the ground running but considering age is on his side, over his 3 year contract I'm 100% confident we'll get our money's worth.

Regardless, one thing we won't be short of this season is goals and that's the only thing we've needed. I and many others are very confident in our strikeforce this season, not forgetting that Hurst is still after one more to go with them.

 

[Southern Shayman]

The fact you don't think it's a big change in class confirms that you know absolutely feck all about Conf North.

 

[EnglishRed]

Elliot Durrell scored loads for Hednesford (more than Bogle) but couldnt quite handle the step up when we brought him in.

Although to be fair I do think he'd be a decent signing for someone in the National. Maybe season after next with Tamworth.

 

[GodsGift]

Didn't Reeves at Altrincham score 30/40 odd at Conference North level but then only managed 10/15 in this league? I can see Bogle being fairly similar to that.

 

[pontoonlew]

The fact you don't think it's a big change in class confirms that you know absolutely feck all about Conf North.

What he said he's playing in a league half full of a similar standard of Conf North. Considering some of the shit occupying the bottom half of this league I'd suggest he's not far off with that one.

Bogle has age on his side and 2 seasons scoring the vast majority of his sides goals. Hes now in a more productive side (granted at a tougher level) and he's impressed already by the sounds of things.

Of course he might flop, but plenty of players have made the step up successfully with records not as good as his.

 

[Gladders]

Wasn't Durrell a midfielder? and No offence to Alty but scoring 15 for them in the conference is an achievement, prehaps in a top 5 side he would have got 20+ There has been others who have failed though like someone who's name I forget that Darlo signed I believe?

Still agree its a risk he won't make the step up, but then every signing is a risk, look at Hearn who was injured for 2 years of his 3 year contract. But then risks also pay off like Vardy, Hearn for one season and others.

Edit: James Walshaw is the Darlo player I was thinking off.

 

[Southern Shayman]

What he said he's playing in a league half full of a similar standard of Conf North. Considering some of the shit occupying the bottom half of this league I'd suggest he's not far off with that one.

Bogle has age on his side and 2 seasons scoring the vast majority of his sides goals. Hes now in a more productive side (granted at a tougher level) and he's impressed already by the sounds of things.

Of course he might flop, but plenty of players have made the step up successfully with records not as good as his.

I'm not arguing that he'll do well - personally think he'll be a success. It's just the cluelessness from someone that's probably never seen a Conference North game. You think there's some shit in this league but my god there's some cloggers in the North

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

I'm not arguing that he'll do well - personally think he'll be a success. It's just the cluelessness from someone that's probably never seen a Conference North game. You think there's some shit in this league but my god there's some cloggers in the North

I was mainly getting at the fact that just the one league step up isn't as big as a 2 or 3 league jump that he could've made. That's where you tend to find the flops. Bogle has torn the Conf North apart for 2 seasons, that's generally a sign that it's time to step it up a notch.

 

[RobS]

It's like any move up from one league to the next. For every Charlie Austin who can do it there's a Sylvain Ebanks-Blake who can't.