Lawrence Sacked!

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 28/12/2001

LENNIE LAWRENCE has been dismissed as Grimsby Town manager just four months after receiving the Manager of the Month Award in August. The former Town boss has had his contract with the Mariners terminated with immediate effect after a disastrous run of results left Town marooned in the bottom 3.

The club released an statement detailing Lawrence's departure this morning.

"Grimsby Town Football Club announce that they have terminated the contract of Lennie Lawrence with immediate effect. After a disappointing run of results both parties have agreed that a change may be beneficial to the Club.

"Lennie Lawrence said he was disappointed by the decision but understands the reasons for the Club's action. Lennie added that he had enjoyed his time at the Club immensely and would like to thank the Players and Staff for their efforts and wish the Club and its supporters all the best for the future."

Lawrence was appointed in August 2000 following the departure of long-serving manager Alan Buckley, and kept the Mariners in the First Division last season after a fantastic run of results towards the campaign's climax. The season ended on a high with the Mariners defeating champions Fulham 1-0 at Blundell Park in the final game in May to ensure Grimsby's survival.

This season, however, Grimsby have struggled virtually all year long, despite a superb start to the campaign in which the Mariners topped the table at the start of October. The largely fortunate results in the first few games in August and September masked the smoldering problems at the club briefly until Grimsby's recent form saw them enter the bottom three and frankly they looked set to stay there.

Although Lawrence has been given few resources with which to sign new players since his arrival, he chose to spend the money he did receive largely on loan players, and his team selections have been repeatedly questioned by supporters almost since day one. The million dollar question for every Grimsby fan, and one which they will soon find the answer to, is can anyone else do any better with the same pool of players at his disposal.

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