Ashcroft: Wigan Link

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 23/07/2000

Ashcroft Linked With Wigan

News From 27th June 2000

Wigan have renewed their interest in Grimsby's want-away striker Lee Ashcroft.

New Wigan manager Bruce Rioch (who was officially appointed at the JJB stadium yesterday) is a big fan of Ashcroft and was linked with the Grimsby striker during his time at Norwich, towards the end of last season.

Ashcroft nicknamed Peggy, who cost £500K two years ago when he was signed from Preston, Grimsby's first opponents next season, has been on the transfer list since March with a quoting asking price of £600K. He was suddenly placed on this list in March after a rumoured training ground bust up. The club officially deny this version of events and have insisted that Ashcroft is being sold for purely financial reasons.

Grimsby manager Alan Buckley has only been allowed a budget for new players equivalent to the funds recouped by selling existing members of the squad. With Ashcroft wanting to leave anyway, and being the one of the most valuable asset on the club's books his departure from Grimsby looks certain, it is just a question of who, when, and how much.

Preston-born Ashcroft, now 27, has expressed a desire to return to his Lancashire roots and various clubs in the North West have been linked with him including Preston, Bolton and now Wigan.

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