By Paul
May 29 2002

Grimsby Town have avoided administration thanks to some shrewd cost-cutting including the release of Menno Willems from his contract. The club had 55% of its income taken away after it was revealed that the Football League would not recieve payment from ITV Digital for the next two seasons.

Since then things have gone for bad to worse with the several key players out of contract and the club unable to afford to offer new deals. However today chairman Peter Furneaux announced that the club would avoid administration but at a cost.

The plan involved heavy cut-backs for all at the club. The measures include the players foregoing their £500 match-fee until a resolve can be found regarding the TV deal. Another major cut-back is that of the reserve team. This will be replaced by an under-19's team as part of a youth reshuffle as the club attmept to bring more players through the ranks.

Speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph, the chairman said the following.

"What we have to talk about is not getting rid of numbers, but a general reduction in what we pay out. That is expected to go right down to the stewards on match days. There are going to be a lot of sacrifices by people at the club,"

"Everything will be taken into consideration. Office staff and people around the ground have agreed to the temporary cuts to help.

"If the money comes in from the lawsuit against Carlton and Granada, or if the Football League gets £25-million by reselling the TV rights, then we'll pay people back with whatever we get as our share."

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