End of the January Sales

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 15/01/2008

GRIMSBY manager Alan Buckley is not planning to supplement his squad any further in the remaining two week's of the January transfer window. Buckley's preference is to work with an established group of players rather than make wholescale changes and today is no exception.

The Town boss is satisfied with the players he has got in his squad, whose form has improved dramatically since the introduction of two loan defenders in the autumn.

Buckley told the Grimsby Telegraph: "I like to try and forge a squad and get a settled side, though it's not always easy with injuries and suspensions cropping up, as has been the case with us on several occasions.

"We were short at the back and I made a move for Sam Hird and Rob Atkinson on loan and we have extended that because they have come in and done well.

"I don't see much else happening with us because we also brought Martin Butler in before Christmas so we had three new players then.

"We'll see what happens but I'm not one for rushing into signings for the sake of it."

Whether Grimsby can persuade Atkinson and Hird's clubs Doncaster and Barnsley to prolong the loans of their defenenders beyond the next few weeks is another matter. Rob Atkinson in particular would be a huge asset to the club as a permanent signing with Justin Whittle's career coming to an end soon.