Wilko Speaks Of Interest Over His Reserve Players

By: Richard Lord
Date: 14/02/2002

GRIMSBY Town's Reserve team coach Paul Wilkinson took time out to speak to the Official GTFC web site of the transfer speculation surrounding Simon Ford. Wilko understands that interest from the Premiership is inevitable if the youngsters perform well in their first team duties.

"Any young players that go into a team nowadays are the focus of a lot of attention once they've played half a dozen games," the former Town player said. "Obviously the bigger clubs are looking around for young talent to take a chance on.

"It's important that we get good young ones in and develop them. In the end they're the life-blood of the team. We need a steady roll all the way through, and there are some good ones from 12 to 16.

"The important thing now is to get 17 and 18 year olds for next year to make sure that we've got some more knocking on the door and pushing the ones that have moved forward this year."

Media speculation that Premiership giants Newcastle have been tracking Ford has come as no surprise to the management team, but what the fans will be asking now is, 'who will be next to follow in the footsteps of Ford?'

"It's difficult to say who will follow Simon Ford into the First Team," admitted Wilkinson. "You're having a gamble and a guess really.

"Big Darren (Mansaram) might make it in twelve months, Chris Bolder has done well this year, and Tommo (Chris Thompson) has had a good spell in the team. They'll learn from the time that they've had in there."

Ahead of tonight's reserve match at Darlington, Wilkinson also revealed that there would be another trialist on board.

"We have a young lad who has come up from Margate for a trial - Mohammed Takular Bigoshi. He's a centre forward, but he'll probably be on the bench."

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