The Lennie & David Show

By: Stephen Bateman
Date: 12/12/2000

In the latest chapter of the on-going saga involving Grimsby Town and David Nielsen, the Danish striker has denied that he ever asked for a wage of £6,000, whilst manager Lennie Lawrence has issued Nielsen with an ultimatum, making it clear that he feels the situation has become tiresome.

According to reports in the local press, negotiations between Nielsen and the club had reached an impasse due to the 23-year old's excessive wage demands. Nielsen denied this, saying: "I have come here to play football and nothing else. It is not about money. "I don't know how that figure can be slipping out to the press, and it's totally untrue. That's one thing I'd like to point out and make clear. "I know it can be good for me and that Lennie can teach me a lot about English football. I have a lot to learn and I hope we can get the deal sorted out this week." If it is the case that Nielsen's wage demands are negotiable, then it remains unclear exactly why the negotiations between the two parties have become so protracted. Meanwhile, Lawrence appears to be fast approaching his wit's-end as he launched into a criticism of the local Grimsby press: "I don't like business being conducted so publicly, "said Lawrence. "We seem to have come to a halt in negotiations and I am concerned about the effect that the speculation is having on the club and the other players." The Grimsby boss then went on to make his intentions clear with regard to the current deadlock involving Nielsen. "If [the deal] isn't done by the weekend, then it won't be done. There will be no saying in three weeks time "Oh, we want to sign now", there will be none of that. If he hasn't put pen to paper by Monday at the very latest, that is it." Lawrence was also quick to point out that he attributed no blame to Nielsen himself over the debacle that has developed, saying "I don't blame him, I just think he has been badly advised, but then that's his problem. I think he will be very unwise to turn his back on a move to Grimsby. "He either takes my advice or he doesn't."

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