GRIMSBY Town bosses admit that letting Greg Pearson join one of their main title rivals was a calculated risk.
The striker linked up with this afternoon's opponents, Kidderminster, on loan last month.
And, although the 27-year-old won't be able to face his parent club today at Blundell Park, he has already played his part in Harriers' surge up the table.
A goal off the bench on his debut helped Steve Burr's men to a big win at Hyde, and the former Burton Albion man has been involved in every game since.
A superb run of results has seen the Worcestershire club leapfrog Town in the standings.
But joint boss Paul Hurst said it was 'only right' to let a player who is out of contract in the summer – and out of the first-team picture – try to earn a deal elsewhere.
"There is always a slight concern there and we could have been extremely selfish and said no," explained Hurst.
"But it wasn't quite working out for Greg here and we felt it was only right to let him move.
"He came off the bench and scored on his debut for them and has been involved regularly.
"But as long as we're comfortable with what's here then we're not going to lose any sleep."
Pearson joined the Mariners last summer after being released by the Brewers, but injuries disrupted his time in North East Lincolnshire and he made just seven league starts for Town.
"At the start of the season we weren't really firing up front and weren't playing particularly well as the players got to know each other," added Hurst.
"Greg had a really good game against Mansfield for our first victory, pictured, but then the next game he didn't really look fit and had to come off.
"Then he got a knock coming back from that injury as well and had to bide his time once we'd brought Ross (Hannah) in."
"He played a couple of games, but we wanted to get Ross back, and Greg just found himself down the pecking order."
The co-manager was keen to wish the forward well for the future, if not this season!
"He needs a fresh start," said Hurst. "He's nothing but a good pro – he works hard, he does work in the gym off his own back and he wants to be playing.
"Opportunities here would have been few and far between because of the quality we've brought into the team.
"We haven't got a bad word to say about him. Sometimes it just doesn't work out and he won't be the first player that's come to a club with a good record but had to move on again.
"Apart from his efforts to get Kidderminster promoted, we all hope it does work out for Greg."
