SCOTT Neilson was the subject of an approach from Conference rivals Barnet before his shock exit from Grimsby Town this week. The Telegraph understands that the Bees made an offer for the out-of-favour forward before the end of the transfer window earlier this month. The current league leaders were believed to have been keen to add Neilson to their promotion-chasing squad, however no move materialised, with Town seemingly not prepared to sell to one of their main rivals. The 27-year-old has since come to a mutual termination of his contract at Blundell Park and is now on the look-out for a new club. However, under league rules, any player whose contract is terminated outside of the transfer window would be unable to sign for a team in the same league – or above – meaning Neilson would only be able to join clubs in the Conference North, South or lower. As reported, Neilson left Town having not featured since he limped out of the defeat to local rivals Lincoln City on December 28. Since then, according to boss Paul Hurst, he had only been able to train three times and had cut a frustrated figure on the periphery of the Town squad. However, Hurst insisted all along that there had never been any fall-out with the former star, who signed permanently with the Mariners back in May 2013.
