GRIMSBY Town are looking to bring in two more players to aid the club's promotion push – following Richard Brodie's shock departure yesterday.
The 25-year-old has returned to parent club Crawley after the Mariners ended his loan contract at Blundell Park by mutual consent.
News of the striker's exit came just 24 hours after he missed a penalty in Town's shoot-out defeat to Wrexham in the FA Trophy final at Wembley on Sunday.
It brought to an end a largely unsuccessful three-month stay in Cleethorpes for the former York City man, who was originally due to spend the rest of the season with the Mariners.
His departure has created a gap in Town's squad and joint boss Paul Hurst has now revealed that the management duo are trying to bring in as many as two new faces ahead of the promotion run-in.
Speaking ahead of tonight's clash with Gateshead – which will be staged at Hartlepool United's Victoria Park – Hurst said: "It's something that we've thought of for a while.
"The enquiries that we've made have seen us hit a bit of a wall so far, but we'll continue to look at it.
"However, we can't just bring in anyone for the sake of it – they have to be of a certain quality.
"There's one or two that we'd like to get in; I think two is probably the number that we'd be looking at.
"The areas that those are in changes all the time.
"In Tom Naylor, we've got someone who can play at centre-half or midfield.
"Where we choose to utilise him may have a knock-on effect on who we look to bring in.
"In the wide areas, we've got three lads and it would be nice to bring another in."
One player who Hurst does not foresee joining the club's promotion push is Doncaster Rovers' midfielder James Harper.
The former Premier League man had been linked with a loan switch to Blundell Park, but the joint boss has distanced himself from any move.
He added: "I got a phone call asking if there was any truth in the rumour linking us with James.
"He's a player that is available, but I don't think that will be happening.
"He's certainly been a good player and he's been in Doncaster team not that long ago so I'm not sure it would be something that he'd even look at.
"We are aware that he's available, however it hasn't gone any further than that."
Tonight's clash with the Heed offers the Mariners' an opportunity to get back on track after Sunday's Wembley defeat extended their winless run to five games.
And Hurst is acutely aware of the need for his side to get back to winning ways as they bid to cement their place in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off places.
He continued: "The top spot now looks unlikely for us but if we get in the play-offs, who knows?
"If we are to get in the play-offs, the chances are that we will have picked up some good results along the way.
"I do still feel that there will be some more twists and turns along the way but we've just got to make sure that we do our job and get in the position and then, over two games, we'd fancy ourselves.
"The aim is the play-offs and it would be great to get another trip to Wembley – you never get tired of playing there.
"It would be great to go back there again and give ourselves the opportunity of being promoted, which has been the aim from day one.
"There is a lot of hard work to do and it will take a massive effort from everyone for us to do that."
