Batty to Leave

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 19/10/2000

Grimsby Town have decided not to offer New Zealand keeper Jason Batty a contract with the Mariners, after seven weeks on trial at Blundell Park. Batty's trial period at Blundell Park was funded by Kiwi Town fan Peter Lilliman, who originally alerted the club to the keeper's availability.

Lennie Lawrence's opinion is that the club's finances can only stretch to two first-team goalkeepers, and therefore Batty (who played in three reserve team games) is surplus to requirements with the budget that the Town boss has to operate under.

Jason Batty's name has been circulated to other English football clubs announcing the New Zealander's availability, and the Mariners are hoping that another team will step in and offer Batty a trial.

The story of Peter Lilliman's superb effort to bring Batty to his home-town team broke first last month on The Fishy, and is a great shame for "Kiwi Scout" Peter that Batty looks live leaving the Mariners.

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