AB Eyes Raven/Other News

By: The Fishy News Room
Date: 07/03/2001

Former Mariners boss Alan Buckley is reported to be close to making a move to persuade Grimsby Town centre back Paul Raven to join him at Lincoln City. 30 year old Raven was originally brought to Grimsby by Buckley, and is reported to be unhappy at the lack of first team opportunities.

Buckley, riding high on two successive wins since joining Lincoln only a week ago is making his first move to bring players in to strengthen the Imps squad.

Raven, a 30 year old defender brought in from WBA was originally seen as a replacement for Mark Lever, but was eventually dropped with loan players coming into the club, and the sacking of the Grimsby manager.

A move could suit both parties, with Raven joining up with his his old mentor Buckley, and Grimsby could get a fee and at the same time relieve some of the pressure off the wages bill.

Grimsby's Press Officer told Planet Football: "We haven't received any official approach from Lincoln and Paul's injured at the moment, so it wouldn't seem like Alan would want to sign him right at this minute, but it would be logical for him to look at people like Raven who are struggling to hold down a first-team place."

Grimsby have also discounted rumours circulating today that a move was being considered for left-back Paul Gibbs from Brentford. A club spokesman said that a move was considered earlier in the season but his club would not release him.

Lennie Lawrence today denied any rift in the relationship between him and the board when referring to an story on this web site. An article printed on The Fishy last week did suggest that the relationship between Lennie Lawrence and the Directors had become strained in respect to current transfer negotiations.

The Grimsby manager told the club's website Mariners Net "Talk of a rift is nonsense. The fact that twelve contracts are all up at once is a situation that this Board inherited, and of course it is a difficult position because the players involved form the backbone of the side." No quotes from the 12 players out of contract at the end of the season were published, however.

"I am negotiating with the players and proceeding on two or three fronts at the same time, and quite rightly and understandably, the Board want to know where negotiations are heading, but there is no problem between myself and the directors."

The Fishy says: The article in question was a guest column in which we invite fans to give their views. It is good to hear that in these troubled times that everyone is pulling in the same direction. However the statements made to the press and the tone of those statements indicated otherwise and on that basis the article was published.

Any Town fan can submit an article to The Fishy for publication using the Submit an Article link at the top of the message board, or on the Links page.

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