CLEETHORPES Town will host Grimsby Town in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, July 9, but who will be in the opposite dugout to Rob Scott and Paul Hurst?
Having parted company with manager Andy Liddle earlier this month, the Owls are yet to confirm who will be his replacement at Bradley Community Stadium.
The outgoing boss guided Clee to a fourth-place finish in Northern Counties East League (NCEL) Division One in their first season at that level.
Town had threatened to challenge for promotion for much of the campaign, but fell away towards the NCEL finale.
Now preparing to mount another Division One charge, the Owls will begin 2013/2014 with a high profile warm-up fixture against the Mariners.
It comes just a year after Town lost 4-2 to then League One side Doncaster Rovers, while Scott and Hurst's men beat Grimsby Borough 12-3.
Upon confirming the news, Clee chairman David Patterson, pictured below, said: "It will be great for the town and it shows just where we are as a club.
"We have been promised that they will be bringing the first team over so it will be a fantastic occasion for everybody involved.
"We were fortunate enough to play against Doncaster Rovers last season and that was a great day for the club as well.
"Dean Saunders brought his side over here and they were impressed with the facilities that we have. We gave them a good show and were by no means overawed by them.
"It was a good display for us and the players all did the club proud. And now we have the chance to play Grimsby in a local derby.
"Cleethorpes Town is an attractive proposition for any manager. Hopefully we can progress on to better things with a new man in charge."
And while the Owls' new manager could lead his team out for the first time against professional opposition, his main task will be to continue the club's own progression.
Aside from their blossoming first team, Cleethorpes have a thriving junior set-up – with upwards of 30 teams based at Linden Homes.
Vice-chairman Dave Mann added: "It has been fantastic. The area has got behind us and from a football side, things are looking good."
Kicking off at 7.15pm, tickets for the match are available at the Linden Homes Club.
Costing £5 for adults, and £2.50 for concessions, half of the proceeds raised will go towards Grimsby Town's Youth system.
