Town Miss Out on Matthews

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 15/03/2001

GRIMSBY TOWN were today beaten to the signature of on-trial Leeds United striker Lee Matthews by Bristol City. The six foot front man has accepted an offer to join the 2nd division club on loan, with the West Country outfit believed to have had a bid of £150,000 accepted by Leeds.

Matthews had been at Grimsby for nearly two weeks, and was reported to be on the verge of signing for the Mariners. The delay in securing the 22 year old stiker's signature, believed to be the result of financial difficulties, allowed the Robins to nip in at the eleventh hour and take Matthews from under the Mariners noses.

Today's development poses a serious question over the current state of the finances at Blundell Park. With the club reported to be losing over £20,000 a week, and only last month having had to negotiate a payment plan to fund a transfer fee of approximately £160,000 for midfielder Menno Willems, the inability to sign a player costing next to nothing, who trained with the club for nearly two weeks, is a worrying sign of things to come.

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