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Newell named new Grimsby boss

06/10/2008

Former Luton Town boss Mike Newell has returned to football management after being appointed by League Two strugglers Grimsby Town.

The 43-year-old takes over from former Mariners manager Alan Buckley, who was sacked three weeks ago following a winless start to the league campaign.

Newell has been out of work for 18 months since being sacked by Luton in March 2007.

He is a controversial character, having spoken out on bungs in football and female match officials in the past.

But Town chairman John Fenty proclaimed his hope that Newell would provide a rallying point for the club's supporters and players as they look to kickstart a faltering campaign.

"Late on Sunday evening the Grimsby Town directors assembled at a hotel near Ferrybridge to conclude the final interviews with the two shortlisted candidates for the vacant manager's position," Fenty told the club's official website.

"Just after 12 midnight, a new manager was appointed.

"The directors are delighted with this appointment of this forward thinking manager. It is now hoped that the fans and everybody associated with the club all get behind him."

Grimsby have just three points from their nine league games so far this season and are yet to win a match.

However, they still sit fourth from bottom of the Football League because of various points deductions for three teams in the same division for financial mismanagement and other rule breaches.

Newell's former club Luton are still on -18 points after starting the season with a 30-point penalty.

Bournemouth still have 8 points to make up from their 17-point deduction, having won just once from their opening nine games.

And Rotherham finally made it into a positive points position and sit on one point, despite starting the season on -18, courtesy of a 4-1 victory over Grimsby at the weekend.