Pre-season Training Starts With A Few Missing!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 03/07/2002

THE Grimsby Telegraph commented on the situation facing the out of contract players today with Burnett looking like he is playing hard to get. Wayne Burnett and Terry Cooke were setting off for the Job Centre today - as Danny Butterfield headed for a first division club.

All three were absent as the Mariners squad reported back for pre-season training. Butterfield is mulling over an offer from a first division club, with both Sheffield outfits being linked. But out-of-contract strikers Bradley Allen and Mick Boulding were expected to be present, despite the latter's impending trial at Middlesbrough

Neither Cooke nor Burnett have been offered new deals by the Mariners yet and the Telgraph reports: "Groves would have been disheartened not to see Burnett and Butterfield - whose contracts expired on Monday. Butterfield had been offered a much-reduced contract, while Burnett spurned the manager's invite to join training. He is currently in London but says he is willing to take a pay cut to stay.

"I'm unemployed and there's been no interest from other clubs," said Burnett. "I'd love to come back up there and play and I've said before that I'm willing to take a pay cut to stay on. Everyone knows that."

An invitation to Cooke to join in training had not reached him.

"I haven't spoken to anyone and I read in the paper that I was supposed to be coming in for pre-season training but I haven't heard anything, There's been no firm offers from anybody, and I'm literally on the way to the Job Centre now!"END

Billo: Wayne Burnett invited to pre-season training which to most would have indicated an offer in the making as soon as the Management is sorted. But no. He stays in London. Does that carry a message about commitment or what?

19 year old defender Greg Young, a central defender, who can also play at left-back. Joined the Town players in training today. He is staying for 3 weeks training hoping, no doubt he might get an offer. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 12 stone. He has been with Sheffield Wednesday says Mariners Net.

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