Is Marcus set for a stint with Mariners?

MARCUS BIGNOT looks certain to be named the new Grimsby manager this week after earning Solihull Moors an FA Cup replay with League Two Yeovil.

He appeared to be saying goodbye to his players, staff and fans after the game, but refused to be drawn on his future.

He said: “We’ve got a close-knit dressing room and I can’t speak highly enough of my group of players. We have a special connection with the fans as well.

“I went over to the fans at the end to thank them for their support. They’ve been great throughout my management career at this club.

“It’s a special place and it will always have a place in my heart. For now though I just want to concentrate on this performance and enjoy the evening. I think I deserve that for the season and year we've had.

“Days like this in the FA Cup don't come around too often so this isn’t about me, it's about this football club and the result we've achieved.”

The Glovers appeared to be cruising into the second round when goals from Ryan Hedges and Otis Khan gave them a commanding two-goal advantage.

Hedges blasted Yeovil ahead from close range on eight minutes and the Glovers doubled their lead after the break when Khan curled in a free-kick from the edge of the area.

But then Kevin Dawson received a second yellow card for fouling Jamey Osborne on 54 minutes and Solihull hit back, with midfielder Jack Byrne steering in a low shot from long-range before volleying in from 20 yards to make it 2-2.

Moors sub Akwasi Asante came close to completing an astonishing turnaround but fired over the bar, and Yeovil held on to take the tie to a replay and will get a second chance to proceed at Damson Park.

Yeovil boss Darren Way said: “We’ll be in the hat for the next round and our players will learn a lot from that experience.

“Most of them haven’t been involved in an FA Cup tie like that before this and we live to fight another day with the replay at a new ground.

“We know what we’re up against in that replay and we know it won’t be easy but there was a critical incident here with the sending off, which changed the dynamics of the game.

“We spoke to Kevin at half-time and we expect a certain level of discipline but him getting a red card changed the game.”