Time To Put Up Or Shut Up!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 18/01/2005

I have never stood back from criticising either the club or the board of directors if I have believed that a decision they have made was either wrong or mistimed.

I have done my share of Dear Mr Fenty, Dear Mr Furneaux and Dear Mr Slade open letters on the Fishy and, do not doubt for one moment, that I won't be sending more in the future.

But now is not the time.

John Fenty is absolutely right in his statement today. The time has now come to put up or shut up.

Everyone has had the opportunity to analyse, dissect and state their piece on the current financial situation, the causes and the solutions. Everyone has also had the opportunity to criticise, praise or condemn, the club, the board or the tax man.

But the continual negativity being espoused by so called supporters is now placing the fundraising campaign in jeopardy before it has even begun.

Those who have had previous experience with the clubs ills will tell you that negativity amongst Grimsby Town supporters travels faster than the bubonic plague.

And at this moment in time, we can do without either.

Let us not hold any further inquests on issues that are now dead and buried and take on the enormous challenge that faces us. And it is an enormous challenge despite the so called experts assuring you it is 'normal routine' in football clubs.

Not this club mister!

We are in dire straits and it would be stupid to deny that but there are still some people who continue to do so.

If anyone still wants to espouse negativity about the situation we would be grateful if they were to take it somewhere other than the Fishy Message Board. No member of the Fishy team wants to see this site becoming the catalyst that destroyed community efforts to save our club. We will not delete any posts, but simply ask all fans to think of the consequences before making them on this, or any other Grimsby web site.

After the campaign is completed successfully, that will be the time to make demands of the club and directors about the future. But we must wait until then.

Inquests are for the dead.

Grimsby Town Football Club is alive and kicking and will continue to be so if we get behind the club and the fundraising campaign.

I recall saying in another article; "That the critics will continue to carp and call, because for them, like Chicken Little, the sky is always falling down on them"

Those of us who care should not let those particular chickens rule the roost. This is the time for real supporters to come to the aid of their club.

We look forward to seeing you join us!

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