ALEX Rodman may have turned down Grimsby Town – but skipper Craig Disley is close to penning a new deal.
As revealed yesterday online at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport, Rodman has left the club after deciding against extending his contract with the Mariners.
The 27-year-old chose not to take up the option, which was written into the deal he signed at the beginning of the season.
Disley, pictured, was one of only a handful of players to be offered a new contract at Blundell Park, amid an end-of-season exodus of released team-mates.
And while negotiations over the deal continue, the skipper says he is eager to put pen to paper and begin preparations for what would be his fourth season with the Mariners.
"There's a few things in the offer that we need to iron out, but it's nothing major and I'm fully confident that I'll be signing the contract sooner rather than later," he said.
"The family are settled in the area and my daughter's just starting secondary school around here, so as a family man, as well as a footballer, it's an important decision.
"But I'm fortunate that I've got the opportunity and I want to stay with this club. I want to get it sorted as soon as possible and start to look forward to next season.
"Fingers-crossed we can get it signed sooner rather than later."
As captain, Disley admitted that it was 'doubly difficult' to watch on as eight of his team-mates were told that they had no future at Town. Scott Kerr, Andy Cook, Clayton McDonald, Joe Colbeck, Sam Hatton, Jonathan Hedge, Dayle Southwell and Jamal Fyfield were all released last week.
Disley continued: "It's a difficult time because a lot of team-mates, who I regard as friends, have been released – some who I thought would be offered contracts.
"Being the skipper, it's doubly difficult to see people being released.
"I've been with some of these lads for two years now and all the boys got on really well off the pitch – the team spirit carried us a long way.
"So when you see those friends leaving the football club, it's hard and I wish all those lads the best with their future careers.
"But with that in mind, I'm delighted to be one of the lucky ones to have been offered a deal and will look to get it signed soon."
