ALL Paul Hurst's phonecalls and texts have come to nothing – Grimsby Town will head to Halifax tonight without a new striker.
The Mariners boss has been working around the clock to bring a new forward in after both Jon-Paul Pittman and Lenell John-Lewis were injured on Saturday.
However, Hurst has conceded it is highly unlikely a new face will arrive before the Conference clash at the Shay (7.45pm).
"I've been extremely busy on the phone and it's been a difficult time," he said.
"A lot of clubs seem to be in a position where they're almost down to the bare bones, and won't let players out.
"With the couple of lads I could have maybe brought in, are they going to improve us or are we just being offered them to give them a taste of first-team action, and ultimately they wouldn't prove good enough?
"So we'll go to Halifax tonight with what we've got and give it a good go."
As Town's only fit striker, Ross Hannah is a certainty to start tonight's encounter against the third-placed Shaymen.
Finding someone to partner him – in just two full days – has been a real challenge for Hurst however.
He continued: "There have been lots of calls and texts, and with it being Saturday evening and Sunday, you're waiting on people to get back to you.
"It's not always a priority for them. But, to be fair, the football community understand people's needs and most people have come back at some point.
"Unfortunately, I haven't had the positive answer I wanted.
"Yesterday, I was still waiting on a couple of calls and they were still on the negative side.
"Unless something comes out of the blue or someone has a change of heart, then we'll be as we were for the Halifax game.
"A couple of the conversations I've had tell me that may change during this week, though.
"You keep knocking on the door and see if anyone's situation does change."
