Town's Youth Chief Axed!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 01/06/2002

IAN Knight, Grimsby Town's Director of Youth, has become the first casualty of the cut-backs at the club with fears that more are expected.

The club statement says: "He has not had his contract renewed because of uncertainty surrounding the Youth Development Grant, which has been compounded by the collapse of ITV Digital. There will now be a re-structuring of the Youth Development programme upon confirmation of the grant."

A former England Under-21 international, who played for Sheffield Wednesday and the mariners before injury forced him to retire from playing Ian became the Community Officer at Blundell Park, and later at Sheffield Wednesday.

When John Cockerill, Grimsby's Director of Youth was promoted by Alan Buckley to Asssistant Manager, Ian returned to Grimsby and took his place as Director of Youth.

His departure from Blundell Park indicates significant changes to the Youth Development Programme which had already been cut to some degree last season.

Other cuts are also expected to be made as the club fights to keep afloat particularly during the close season in with only season ticket sales producing any significant income.

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