'Grimsby Town trialists must prove they can cut it at a higher level'

GRIMSBY Town's bosses are impressed by trialists Chris Doig, Tom Turner and Jake Turner – but insist the trio still have something to prove against higher class opposition.

Centre-half Doig has played in both of the Mariners' friendlies so far, helping to keep clean sheets against two Northern Counties East League sides.

The experienced former Nottingham Forest defender has looked assured throughout, but co-manager Paul Hurst wants to be certain he is the right man before a deal is put on the table.

"He's a player that we like in a lot of respects – especially in terms of his experience and how he has come into the club," Hurst remarked on the 32-year-old.

"He would certainly be a good presence around the place.

"We would like to see him against better opposition, but there's no doubt about it, he ticks a lot of the boxes we're after.

"As well as being a vocal leader, it's nice that he's left-footed. That isn't essential, but it just balances it out back there nicely.

"At the moment, it's all positive, so we'll have another chat with him and see where that goes."

The search for a back-up for Town keeper James McKeown has also encouraged the bosses to offer trials.

Stoppers Tom Turner and Jake Turner trained with the squad last week, before appearing in goal in one friendly each.

"Tom's trained with us and played in the game against Cleethorpes Town, but Jake had been training as well and we wanted to have a look at him in the game at Winterton," Hurst added.

"Tom definitely had more to do, and Jake – through no fault of his own – apart from setting up a few attacks, didn't have anything to do.

"We could have left Jake on all night but he still wouldn't have had anything testing to deal with.

"So it was hard to judge him. I think he's a confident individual, but we want to look at him in another game.

"It's a catch-22 situation because ideally we'd like to be on top and our keeper has little to do, but it doesn't help us make a decision, and I could have stood in goal on Friday night and done alright!

"Quite possibly, we'll aim to have another look at both of the lads.

"We also want James (McKeown) out on the pitch at times because, although he's had nothing to do, it's gets him back into game mode, used to his starting position and communicating with the back four."

Given the amount of players looking for new clubs, Hurst feels even more will be inclined to take up the offer of a trial. That, he says, will allow the managers to be more selective about who they invite to train with the squad – and turn-out in Town's pre-season friendlies.

"We are going down a slightly different route this season and looking at one or two more people on trial," he explained.

"It's something that we've erred away from after a negative experience with trialists in the past.

"We were part of a club that at times got trialists in that, quite frankly, were nowhere near up to the grade.

"But I think we can be a little bit more selective as managers."

Last season, the bosses ran the rule over former Macclesfield man Lewis Chalmers and Scottish midfielder Derek Niven during pre-season.

After impressing the bosses in Town's 12-3 victory over Grimsby Borough, Niven was handed a one-year deal and went on to become a key part of the Mariners' team before his release in May.

And Hurst is confident that the practice of inviting trialists can work again this time around.

He continued: "Unless loads of players suddenly find a club, there are going to be a lot of players who – if we ask the question – are going to have to seriously consider coming in on trial to show that they are worthy of a contract.

"That is something we will continue to look at during pre-season matches."