Kevin Donovan Declines Offer To Join Mariners!

By: Jostein Jenson
Date: 13/03/2004

YORK City's new signing Kevin Donovan has revealed that he turned down a move to Grimsby Town to join the Minstermen to keep a promise to their manager.

He was approached to rejoin the Mariners after leaving Rochdale but despite admitting that was an attractive prospect he decided to honour an agreement with City player-boss Chris Brass instead

Donovan said; "I spoke to Grimsby and, obviously with my connections there as a former club, it was tempting but I like to be honest with people and Chris invited me to come and train at York and it would have been wrong for me to leave after just one day training. Hopefully, I won't regret that decision."

He is also looking forward to renewing acquaintances with City assistant-manager Lee Nogan, saying: "I know Lee from our days together at Grimsby. He gave me a call and asked me to come and train here. We had a successful season the first year we played at Grimsby, winning promotion and getting to the Auto Windscreens Shield final so we played a couple of times at Wembley. He has done well and is a fit lad who knows the game inside out."

"He's a typical centre-forward who is good on the ball and brings other people into play."

Donovan, who has scored 67 goals in 493 league and cup matches, has originally signed for City on a non-contract basis but has indicated that he would be happy to stay for longer.

"I would consider that. I'm only living in Leeds and it's a case of going in and getting a feel for the place. If things go well hopefully we can talk about next season. I'm enjoying being at a club again because I was out for a couple of weeks after leaving Rochdale.

"I went there as a favour to Alan Buckley after I finished at Barnsley because they had a player on international duty but I knew when he came back that I would be looking for another club again."