Opinion: Scott Kerr signs - but do Grimsby Town need another?

SO Scott Kerr is finally on board – but do Grimsby Town still need another midfielder to fuel next season's promotion charge?

The capture of the 31-year-old, on a one year deal, is certainly a significant one for the Mariners.

If reports from former club York City are anything to go by, Kerr could prove to be a more than useful acquisition by Rob Scott and Paul Hurst.

A midfielder with over 400 senior appearances under his belt, Kerr played a key role in the York City FA Trophy and promotion-winning side of 2011/12.

As he was quick to tell the Telegraph shortly after signing for the Mariners, he scooped a host of awards for his exploits in that season, despite finishing the campaign sidelined through injury.

Most Town fans seem impressed with the signing, but after the departure of fellow central midfielders Derek Niven and Frankie Artus – do the joint bosses still need to add yet another middle-man to the ranks?

Given his exploits last season, it would follow that Craig Disley will be one of the first names on the team-sheet this time around, with Kerr the favourite to play alongside him in an orthodox 4-4-2.

But, if Town decide to throw Andi Thanoj into the mix, and employee the 4-3-3 which was seen at the tail end of the campaign, then another midfielder would surely be called for.

The young Albanian can certainly spot a pass and likes to create, while Disley – given the right players around him – likes to get forward and get among the goals.

Kerr meanwhile was often employed in a 4-3-3 formation during his time at York, shielding the Minstermen's back four and keeping play ticking over with great effect.

A 4-3-3 formation would give the managers the opportunity to maximise their attacking options – what with Town's wealth of strikers – and with Thanoj, Disley and now Kerr, give them a blend of differing styles in the middle.

But using a three across the middle most weeks would leave the squad a little threadbare for back-up midfielders, and few fans would argue against the bosses bringing in another.

If they were to decide to enter the hunt for another middle man, it would then come down to a question of style – a battler, a creator or a box-to-box man?

The injury-enforced absence of Niven towards the end of last campaign highlighted the value of having a disciplined and dogged tackler in the middle of the park.

However, the Scot was often criticised for having a lack of impact on the game going forward.

Thanoj is a player who is quite comfortable in the 'quarter-back' role pulling the strings from deep and making things happen in front of him.

But some, perhaps given his age, have questioned the youngster's ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck.

Disley is without doubt the most complete midfielder on Town's books at the moment, with new man Kerr still something of an unknown quantity to most home fans when it comes to his playing style.

So if another midfielder was to come on-board, it would probably have to be an adaptable squad player – someone in the mould of the recently-departed Artus – to give the midfield some added insurance and flexibility.

Any ideas Town fans?