Lennie Gets Man Friday

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 18/10/2001

ALAN NEILSON is expected to sign for the Mariners tomorrow morning. It is hoped that the Fulham defender will put pen to paper on a short term contract with Grimsby Town for either three months or until the end of the season, pending a medical and agreeing terms with the club.

"It's not a loan deal so that's ideal for me" Grimsby boss Lennie Lawrence told Radio Humberside. "If I can get him on a short term contract, whether that's three months or until the end of the season, it will suit us perfectly." Were Neilson to have been a loan player, it would have meant the Mariners sacrificing either David Beharall or Marlon Broomes, as only two concurrent loanees are permitted from English clubs.

Lawrence has pencilled in the former right back as a straight replacement for veteran full back John McDermott, who is expected to be out for at least three months. "He hasn't played as many games as you'd expect for a 29-year-old, but he's been at big clubs all his career. Now it's time to play." Lawrence said of Neilson, who he had a good look at in yesterday's reserve victory over Scunthorpe United. The German-born full back has failed to make a single appearance for Fulham this season, where he has been on a month-to-month contract, and featured only seven times during the 2000-2001 campaign..