A HOST of clubs are queuing up to sign Southport winger Shaun Whalley at the end of the season – but Grimsby Town will not be one of them.
After the winger starred in the Mariners' thrilling 2-2 draw with the Merseysiders on Saturday, his boss Liam Watson admitted that the part-timers are resigned to losing the 25-year-old.
Capping a stellar individual display, Whalley's superb cross allowed Karl Ledsham to score what looked to be the Sandgrounder's winner at Blundell Park.
However, Town fought back and snatched a hard-fought point through Cleveland Taylor's dramatic injury-time equaliser.
That point, combined with Forest Green Rovers' defeat at Tamworth, means the Mariners have an eight-point buffer over the sixth-placed side – and could seal a play-off place tomorrow night at Dartford if results go their way.
After Saturday's game, Watson revealed that many of the Blue Square Premier's big boys – including Town – as well as league clubs both in England and Scotland, have shown interest in Whalley, adding that he will not stand in the way of a move.
In Pictures: Grimsby Town 2 Southport 2
But, while Town joint boss Paul Hurst admitted he and Rob Scott made tentative enquiries about the player at the start of the season, he insists they are unlikely to revisit the issue at the end of the current campaign.
"We made an enquiry about him at the start of this season," Hurst told the Telegraph, "But for me, the asking price was unrealistic and certainly ruled us out.
"He's a good player but, from what I've heard there's interest from Football League clubs.
"What I would say is that, on Saturday, he was one of very few wingers to give Aswad (Thomas) a difficult time this season."
Asked if the former Norwich City trainee's valuation would dissuade Town from making an approach at the end of the season, Hurst replied: "I would say so, yes.
"If it gets to the point where his contract runs out and he's a free agent, then obviously you can be interested, but as I said, there are league clubs that are also interested.
"He's a player that can pick up the ball and go past players and he played well on Saturday, there's no doubt about that."
Watson said: "Shaun's got another year on his contract but we've had an agreement with Shaun all along about the end of this season.
"For me, he's been, by far, the best player in the Conference this season. All the big Conference clubs want to buy him and now league clubs and Scottish clubs as well.
"You saw what Shaun's all about on Saturday," he added.
"He will help us get over the line and then at the end of the season, once that's done, we'll go from there."
