Jevons To Return?

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 04/09/2003

PHIL Jevons, who returned to training with the first team yesterday after recovering from a thigh injury, may be making a return to playing for the Mariners with talks going on between the club and the former Evertonian's new agent.

Chairman Peter Furneaux told the Grimsby Telegraph that he has distanced himself from talks, leaving it to manager Paul Groves.

Jevons claimed that that the chairman had lambasted him in front of the Town squad and trainees, warning him that he would not be allowed to train with the first team, play for the Reserves or be issued with training kit unless he agreed a pay cut.

But Furneaux said; he was 'sick' of talking to the player about the revised deal which, he said, would still be twice the wages of club skipper John McDermott.Phil

But Furneaux told the Telegraph; "He's training with the first team and we have got to see how he comes along. He's changed his agent and we have to see what the player's attitude is. I've put nothing in the way of him coming back if he's changed and he wants to play."

"He's been unfit. But if he's got the right sort of attitude, the manager wants him and things can be agreed then we can go forward. We're not pushing anything. We're waiting to see what his new agent says and the manager is now dealing with it."

"But, at the moment, there is only talk because the player is not fit yet. We're trying to get him fit and what happens after that is between the manager, the agent and the player."

"My idea was to get things moving. If that's happened, then that's great because we only want players who want to play for Grimsby Town at this club."