It Aint Easy!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 23/07/2003

IF you thought being a manager was easy, Paul Groves would advise you differently. Facing Hull City tonight in a testimonial match he faces a problem in putting a team together. In addition to that, he is no nearer to finding a striker before the season starts.

Injuries include; Alan Pouton, John McDermott, Tony Crane and David Soames, with Marcel Cas and Des Hamilton both doubtful.

Pouton has had exploratory surgery on his knee and been told to rest for two weeks.

Groves "We've obviously got to wait to see how the operation went and how Alan reacts to that, it's crucial that he gets good rest and doesn't aggravate it in any way shape or form."

In the hunt for a striker the hunt is intensifying and the net is being cast even wider with Groves telling Mariners Net; "There are people out there, but you are looking for the best deal - you're also looking for the best man for the job."

"We're getting to the stage now where we have spoken to a lot of strikers and very few of them have even got down to money. At the end of this month, some players will cease to get paid elsewhere, so that may get one or two out of the woodwork."

"The last thing we want to do is end up where we alert another club and it ends up in an auction or something like that. "We like to conduct our business on the quiet and hopefully announce it when it's all signed and sealed."

"We are having to look at younger, unproven players and older players who could provide a short-term solution. We are also having to look at a season-long loan but those players, again, are often young and somewhat unproven."

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