"Fans have been debating all week whether the players wages would be paid on time this month. Dismal Jimmy can reveal the answer to that question is "yes" and, er, "no". 

In fact the players have been forced to accept a down payment on their salaries this week. Further installments will follow each week until the end of the month when the process will start again. 

This is undoubtedly a step forward from last month when the last of the players were paid in cash from the proceeds of the Grimsby gate. Dismal Jimmy takes its hat off to Mr Guterman for this novel solution to the clubs cash flow problems. 

All the staff have to do now is contact their banks and mortgage lenders and arrange for all their direct debits to go out a bit every week. As is his habit Mr Guterman ducked out of the meeting with his employees and despatched the sinister Mr Reames down to Colliers Park to break the news. 

Still the glass is half empty or half full and nobody could accuse the new regime of not tackling a serious issue at the club. All of which will no doubt fire the lads up for the crucial play off match against Tranmere on saturday." 

Jimmy