As Grimsby Town finally returned to team training in preparation for the start of the new season, Ian Holloway spoke of his eagerness to make the club serious competitors in League Two.
When Holloway announced as the club’s new manager in December, they were languishing in 21st position, having not won any of their last 15 games in all competitions.
When the 57-year-old took over proceedings their fortunes quickly changed, however, with the Mariners going on to win seven of their last fourteen games and ending in 15th, the COVID-19 pandemic ended the League Two season prematurely.
‘The fans deserve a club that is growing’
The pandemic has presented many other off-field challenges for all the football clubs at Grimsby’s level and speaking to the club’s official website, Holloway feels the fans deserve to be rewarded for their ongoing support.
“I am at an absolutely fantastic place, and I think the fans deserve a football club that is growing and moving forward,” said Holloway.
“It feels a little bit strange to have started, and then [the pandemic] came along and stopped it all so suddenly, but that has made me even more determined to get it right for the people I work with and for.
“The way the fans have rallied around [the club] and not asked for any money back, bought shares, raised money is absolutely incredible so I can’t wait to pay them back and make them proud.”
The Lincolnshire club have felt the support of their loyal backing during the pandemic, with the Mariners Trust fundraiser currently totalling at close to £90k, which is a combination of many raised from shares, crowd funders and online auctions.
Transfer plans
The Town manager also touched on his transfer plans, with the Mariners one of the eight clubs left in the division yet to make a new signing this summer.
With his impressive CV and range of contacts within the game, the fans should be confident that Holloway can fill the gaps left by the departures of important players such as Charles Vernam and Billy Clarke in the last couple of weeks.
“A lot of energy is going to spent on finding the people that are going to do us proud; establish an identity,” continued Holloway.
“I’ll be looking throughout all the levels, [for new players] higher than us, lower than us and also at foreign players as our search will be worldwide.
“We’ve got more than enough spaces to fill, almost too many, but for me, it’s a blessing […] I want to get us moving forward so it’s all about getting your recruitment right.”
There is still some uncertainty around the finer details, but it is clear that Holloway is raring to get football back underway and continue what he started at his new club.