LL Looking for Central Defender (Plus Other News)

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 12/07/2001

LENNIE LAWRENCE revealed today that he has upped the ante in his search for a defender to replace Peter Handyside by targeting a Premiership centre back. However he is refusing to mention any names at this stage but wants someone before the end of the season.

It appears that Lennie has dropped the idea of dropping Steve Livingstone back into defence saying a central defender was his main priority with the season just a month away.

"We haven't got any Bosmans lined up because they're aren't any who appeal to me who are right, or that we can afford," he said to the Grimsby Telegraph but will instead try to secure a permanent signing on a free transfer or a year-long loan.

"...We can't rush into something that's wrong!..."

Lawrence is looking to some of the clubs he has been involved with such as Charlton and Middlesbrough as well as other Premiership sides.

"We've got half a dozen people who we are actively pursuing. They might be loans or somebody who we can get out of a contract on a free. For example if someone moves to a club then somebody at that club might find that their position has changed slightly," he said.

"We can't rush into something that's wrong. I want somebody in for the English friendlies when we come back from Sweden but I don't want to put myself under any time pressure. Any loan probably won't start until a week before the season."

Lawrence is hoping that French trialist Betrand Ketchenke will be good enough to be offered a contract when the squad start their training at Lilleshall next week. "In an ideal world, he'd be the fourth centre back at the club," said Lawrence. "We could have Grovesy, Raven, another experienced lad and him."

The GET also added that Lennie will give a trial to a Swedish centre back during the tour of Scandinavia.

On Mariners Net today manager Lennie Lawrence said he will sit down with Wayne Burnett and try to agree a deal that will keep the player at Blundell Park on a permanent basis ending the month-to-month deal that Burnett is on at he moment.

Burnett, who played the whole of last season under those arrangements, has repeatedly declined to sign a long-term contract, and the Town boss is hoping for a more permanent deal as he wants wants more certainty regarding the midfielder.

Grimsby Town are to cut their ticket prices for the Worthington Cup tie against local rivals Lincoln City. The match will bring Lennie Lawrence's Mariners up against former boss Alan Buckley's Imps in the new format, one-legged first round.

The match is to take place on Tuesday August 21st, but no specific specific details of ticket prices has yet been announced, but Mariners fans can expect to make a significant saving on standard prices.

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