Sunderland Say No To Oster Return!

By: Tony Hamilton
Date: 05/02/2003

PAUL Groves revealed to the Grimsby Evening Telegraph that Sunderland have snubbed a bid to bring John Oster back on loan to the Mariners for a third time of asking.

The winger while he was here led a revival for Town that led them out of the drop zone, and to his part he scored 5 goals in 10 games while he was here. But on New Years Eve, John was called back to the Stadium of Light and made a substitute appearance against Manchester United a day later.

Since his return Town have failed to win in the last 6 games and have dropped back into the relegation zone since the embarrassing 3-0 defeat against Portsmouth

The Gaffer was ready to reopen talks with the Black Cats, before John left and has contacted Howard Wilkinson since in the last fortnight in some hope of resurrecting the loan deal. But due to Sunderland's injury crisis Oster will not be allowed out on loan even though he will be surplus to requirement with the Black Cats, when his contract runs out in the summer.

Groves has a limited amount of money available for a well needed loan deal after the termination of Paul Raven's contract last week, but is resign to not be able to get Oster back this season. "New faces are needed. When we had Oster, and also having a combination of Campbell, Pouton and Caldicott across the pitch we had a bit of everything" said Paul Groves.

Groves is in talks with an unnamed player hopefully being able to bring him in for the crucial game against Stoke City, but the players who have turned the Mariners down in the last 10 days have seen Grimsby Town as an "unfashionable" club.

Add To Facebook

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!

Related Stories

• More Trialists Arrive
• Oster Back In Welsh Fold
• Are We Missing Bradley Allen?
• More Stories