MORE TOWN DEAL TALKS LOOM

BUT JANUARY FOCUS IS ON NEW FACES

- By SAM ALLEN

GRIMSBY Town's head coach David Artell revealed further player contract talks are in the pipeline.

The Mariners' top goal contributor this term, Charles Vernam, is one of the current first-team players with an expiring contract, and it's at this time the future of current squad members beyond this season begins to come to the fore.

There is something to be said for an expiring deal as a strong motivating factor for players to perform, particularly at the lower levels, where the financial reasons for being in contract are much more urgent.

That said, players also want to be somewhere they enjoy playing and feel valued, not to mention somewhere they can be successful on both a team and individual level. Vernam has certainly felt that this season at Town after past injury issues.