The Fight For Survival

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 22/10/2001

WITH a resounding defeat at the hands of Watford at Blundell Park on Saturday, Grimsby entered the dreaded regions of the relegation candidates and unless there is a significant change in results and commitment by the players, relegation is almost a certainty.

Indeed, if it were not for the spirited start to this season, the Mariners would be firmly entrenched at the bottom of the division and, if the team does not rekindle the commitment they showed then, they will be playing second division football next season.

The Grimsby fans have shown a great deal of patience so far and despite the results have been there to cheer the Mariners on, without resentment or hostility. But times change and attendances, which are among the lowest in the league, will drop even further as supporters lose hope and faith in their team.

Relegation would be a total disaster for the club with TV income dropping from almost 3 million pounds to around half a million, a situation that could prove the nemesis for a club struggling on the current level of TV income.

Some knives are already out for Lennie Lawrence who has struggled with limited resources to create a team that will, at least, retain first division status but that team appears not to have answered the call and it seems that no one has an easy answer to the problem.

Other fans acknowledge the commitment of Lawrence and though managers are engaged on performance related contracts it would be sad to hear "Sack the manager" calls at Blundell Park.

These are desperate times for the Mariners and unless there is an overall improvement, the downward plunge may well be irrecoverable. With two tough games coming up, the Mariners are looking to be hard pressed to gain a single point, which makes the fight back even more difficult. But fight back they must or face the inevitable.

The next month or so will be a worrying time for the fans and supporters, and not one them will be wishing to be in Lennie Lawrence's shoes!!

Or is it too late already? What do you think? Have your say on the Message Board!

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