Returning striker puts managing on hold

Grantham Town’s joint managers Jimmy Albans and Wayne Hallcro have persuaded striker Paul Grimes to put his managerial career on hold and return to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s top flight to concentrate on scoring goals.

The forward, with 27 goals in 62 appearances for the Gingerbreads, including six goals in 21 games last season, had taken his first steps into management as part of Brigg Town’s new managerial trio in December alongside Michael Jacklin and Scott Hellewell.

They replaced Mick Gray at the First Division South Zebras but with Albans and Hallcro looking to boost their striking options and Grimes still hungry to play at the highest possible level, his return to the South Kesteven Sports Stadium was announced on Thursday morning.

Hallcro is looking forward to seeing a player who helped them win the First Division South championship back in action in the Evo-Stik NPL's top flight. He said: “We have watched a number of players. We went to watch Stamford against Spalding this week but decided not to make a move there but we have brought Paul Grimes back to the club. He has been playing regularly at Brigg and is raring to go. We could see in training how fit he is at the moment.

"We have maintained a very good relationship with Paul and he decided that playing at Division One was not the level he wanted to be at. He wants to play at the higher level and challenge himself. We know he is good enough, so does he. This is a second chance for him to show that."

Grimes is not the only new face to arrive at the club since the return of Grantham’s managerial duo at Christmas. Hallcro and Albans have also boosted their midfield options with the signing of Richard Whyman from Bedworth United.

The 24-year-old put in a strong performance earlier in the season when the Gingerbreads hosted the Greenbacks in the Doodson Sport Cup and the former Eastwood player is also known to Hallcro from his time at Coalville. They are hoping he’ll be joined by other signings before Grantham travel to Ilkeston in the Premier Division on Saturday.

Hallcro added: "He is a strong centre midfield player who likes a tackle and is another who wants to take on the challenge of playing at a higher level. I’ve seen him play against Coalville and he impressed me. We are expecting to have more signings by the weekend and we are looking at loans as well as permanent."

* Three players left the Gingerbreads this week, Jamie McGhee moving to Boston along with Kyle Dixon following the end of his loan and Malachi Lavelle-Moore returning to Notts County after his loan deal ended.