The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Next Town Boss?

New Manager Named!

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 04/06/2006

GRIMSBY Town have now found a new manager and his identity is to be disclosed on Monday morning. Given that a replacement has been found fairly quickly it is likely to be someone close to the club, with former assistant manager Graham Rodger the most likely to get the nod.

Russell Slade, widely expected to become Yeovil's next manager, had hoped to take Graham Rodger with him to Huish Park. However, the Somerset club are understood to have dug their heels in about keeping Steve Thompson on as their No. 2 over the course of the weekend, thus leaving Rodger free to take the reins at Blundell Park.

The fact that John Fenty is on holiday (which he is combining with a Football League summer meeting in Albufeira on the Algarve), also points towards a club insider getting the job as the negotiations have taken place in his absence.

The identity of the new manager will be officially revealed on Monday morning at Blundell Park. Hopefully this time it will actually happen, as last time a high profile signing was heralded the likelihood is that Russell Slade was approached by another club after giving his verbal agreement last week to put pen to paper on a new three year deal.

If Rodger does get the job it will be third time lucky for the former Grimsby defender, who twice has been caretaker manager, only to be overlooked on both occasions by the GTFC board. This time, however, John Fenty will probably be looking for continuity, given Town have just had their most successful season since the departure of Alan Buckley in 2000.

The question many fans would like to know is whether Rodger will continue with the direct approach favoured by his former mentor, or move towards the passing game which many of the Blundell Park faithful would prefer to see.

The new manager will have the remainder of the close season to find replacements for Steve Mildenhall (expected to move to Yeovil), Michael Reddy and Rob Jones (both expected to be sold).

John McDermott or Neil Woods are likely to be made Rodger's assistant, with the odd man out taking on (or continuing in the case of Woods) the duty of Youth Team coach.


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This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!


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