What roles will Artell give his under-contract Town stars?
BOSS HAS DECISIONS TO MAKE AS HE REVAMPS HIS SQUAD FOR PUSH UP THE LEAGUE TABLE
THE biggest focus for David Artell currently will be on making new signings, but he will also have decisions to make regarding the players already at the club. Once pre-season rolls around, every player will have the opportunity to prove their worth to the head coach.
Every new campaign is a fresh start of sorts, particularly with a different face leading the preparations this time.
However, a pecking order for the players already exists based on how last season unfolded and who was favoured by Artell. Some names already at the club will remain regular starters next term, some will be squad players and others may be moved on, depending on who comes in.
Starters Doug Tharme, Curtis Thompson, Charles Vernam, Danny Rose.
The team’s spine is there for Grimsby in Tharme, Thompson and Rose who can all lead the defence, the midfield and the forward line respectively in terms of their ability but also leadership qualities. Those three feel guaranteed to start the first game of next season if they come through preseason without any hitches. With the right pieces added around them, Town will have the recipe for success next term. Vernam can be considered a starter at this stage given he did not have much chance to get to his peak performance level with the major injury he suffered.
He is committed long-term to the club, and in top form has the potential to be one of the better players in League Two.
Squad players Jake Eastwood, Toby Mullarkey, Harvey Rodgers, Kieran Green, Donovan Wilson.
Mullarkey and Rodgers were ever-present towards the back end of the season once Artell made the switch to a back three, but the general feeling is that Town can do better and for a back four set-up, there might be stronger options in the market this summer. The pair could move back into the starter column depending on what kind of business the club do, but they will be solid choices as back-ups.
Green has signed for another year to be a midfield destroyer off the bench and Wilson can provide pace and energy as a substitute if he can stay fit.
Eastwood is a solid number two option for the goalkeeper spot, but Town will need to improve on what he and Cartwright offered in that position this season.
Sell/Loan Evan Khouri, Cameron Gardner, Alex Hunt, Rekeil Pyke.
Khouri and Gardner are likely to go out on loan at some point next term, the former on a shortterm move to get some rhythm early having not played much first-team football last term and the latter on a longer deal to get him his first proper taste of the senior game. There are a couple of players whose future at the club is up in the air despite being contracted for next year.
Hunt is in that category, having finished this season on loan, and Pyke was not a part of Artell’s plans for the end-ofseason run-in.
Hunt was never able to lock down a starting spot under previous boss Paul Hurst, having
signed for three years in 2022, and after some high praise from Artell early on, he was shipped out to the National League on loan.
If there are interested parties for either player, it would not be a surprise to see the club explore those options to raise some extra funds.
Contract offers on the table Denver Hume, Harry Clifton, Callum Ainley.
Town have contract offers on the table for three players, and all three could be regular starters next term if they sign on.
Hume did well, having come in on deadline day of the January window on a short-term deal and would remain a solid left-sided option for the back line.
Clifton has been one of the most featured players over the last couple of seasons, in large part due to his versatility.
Town can find better, more technical players, but Clifton can still offer a lot as part of a squad.
Ainley could have a big role to play next year, depending on his health coming into the season because he is a player that Artell knows better than anyone and has the creative gene that the team desperately needs.