2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Grimsby Town

Player Decisions

Retain

Reece Staunton, Maldini Kacurri, Cameron McJannet, Cameron Gardner, Harvey Rodgers, Jayden Sweeney, Justin Amaluzor, Jamie Walker, Henry Brown, Doug Tharme, Charles Vernam, Darragh Burns, Geza David Turi, Kieran Green, Seb Auton

Release

George McEachran, Jason Svanthorsson, Jude Soonsup-Bell, Tyrrell Warren, Zak Gilsenan

Sell

Jaze Kabia, Christy Pym, Sam Lavelle

Lose

Evan Khouri

Loan End

Andy Cook, Clarke Odour, Jackson Smith, Tyrrell Sellars-Fleming

Loan Out

Henry Brown, Seb Auton

Sign

Andy Cook

Retained Squad

New Signings

Cameron Dawson (Rotherham United – free)

One area that will require a fair bit of attention during the summer by David Artell is the goalkeeping department. The #1 jersey was the cause of much inconsistency last term. Contracted goalkeeper Christy Pym has been told that he can leave the club this summer, and so I am fully expecting The Mariners to bring in a new starting goalkeeper. Of the options available on the market, the one that I would be looking at is Cameron Dawson. 

Dawson is a name that has perhaps been overlooked so far this summer due to the fact that he comes off the back of an underwhelming campaign with The Millers, and was indeed released at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. The 30-year-old was not too long ago playing on the books with Sheffield Wednesday at a higher level, and so The Mariners wouldn’t be getting a goalkeeper that they have to ‘gamble on’. He is hugely experienced, and I feel that he could represent a clever pickup on a free transfer. 

One of David Artell’s biggest strengths is his man management and being able to get the best out of players, and so I think that signing for The Mariners could well be a hugely attractive option for Dawson at this stage of his career. From the goalkeeper that was once at Sheffield Wednesday and in particular impressing out on loan with Exeter City, I think that it is fair to say that he has lost a bit of his mojo. If I was advising Dawson, I would say that he needs to go somewhere he can his love back for the game, play regularly and go into an environment where he is going to 

Given his form for Rotherham United last season, I could see why some Mariners fans would perhaps not be impressed with the addition of the experienced shot-stopper, yet I maintain that he is a capable goalkeeper. I would personally be mindful of The Millers collective struggles, and perhaps not pin too much of that responsibility onto solely his shoulders. Different players play differently in certain environments, and I feel that he could do well in League Two. There aren’t many better managers in the EFL when it comes to giving players the confidence to play and platforming them well, and in terms of the type of opportunity that he needs to look at getting next I feel The Mariners could be an attractive option. 

Dawson is originally from Sheffield, and has spent the last two seasons with Rotherham United. As such, I feel that the geographically logistically works for him. The goalkeeping market is always a difficult one to recruit in, and so I think that Dawson could well be an astute piece of business. He ticks a number of the boxes that they would typically look for, and if David Artell is able to get him playing back to his best and where I know he can be then I think he has the potential to be one of the better goalkeepers in League Two. If they can get him, I feel that they should go all out to get him.

Adam Alimi-Adetoro (FC Halifax Town – free)

One player that has been rumoured as a potential signing for The Mariners this summer and one that I could quite comfortably see handling the step up into League Two is former FC Halifax Town defender Adam Alimi-Adetoro. The youngster announced his exit from The Shay recently, and I think that he would be an excellent pickup for The Mariners if they are able to get him ahead of what will likely be a lot of competition for his signature. 

I think that by his own admission he will say that 2025-26 was somewhat of an underwhelming campaign for him, and former Shaymen boss Adam Lakeland was seen to call out the young defender at times to try and inspire an upturn in his fortunes. He is a very talented player, and while the last 12 months have perhaps not been his best work in Shaymen colours I do feel that under the right coach and in the right system that he has got all the attributes that you would typically look for in a centre-back. 

As a profile, I feel Alimi-Adetoro is a bit of a ‘unicorn’ player. You don’t find many players on the market that have got the size and physical attributes that Alimi-Adetoro has, yet has got the mobility to defend large spaces, fairly quick, and is left-footed. 

While I like the look of what I see in Alimi-Adetoro, I think that there is definitely room to develop. I would like to see the youngster be a little bit more aggressive in the way he plays in wanting to win the ball. Use his physical attributes more effectively. Develop that bit of ‘nasty’ about him. I feel that at times he has been a bit ‘lazy’ in how he defends in terms of perhaps not being overly diligent in his defending and relying on his attributes, and so if he can develop that extra attentiveness to his game then I feel he can really kick-on. 

There are not many better coaches in the Football League when it comes to work with young players than David Artell, and so as a neutral I would be incredibly excited to see what Alimi-Adetoro could do playing under his leadership. He needs a bit of coaching to be able to platform his attributes correctly, and if he can do that then I think he can more than adjust to League Two and indeed play higher. He is still only 23 years of age, and so is very much in the infancy of his career. There is plenty of development left to do in his game, and if he can show that then Grimsby Town would have top talent on their hands. 

There have been a lot of rumours circling around Alimi-Adetoro that he could make a move into the Football League this summer, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he did. He is a highly coachable player, and I think he would dovetail nicely alongside the existing options that The Mariners have got at their disposal. On a free transfer, I feel that it is the type of signing that could quite easily turn a profit for Town in years to come.

Jack Powell (Crewe Alexandra – free)

One player that The Mariners will be slightly disappointed to lose this summer is George McEachran. I feel that they will be looking to sign a like-for-like replacement to the youngster during the off season to provide them with that tempo controller at the base of the midfield, and so the one player I would be looking at is former Crewe Alexandra central midfielder Jack Powell. 

In my opinion, I think that Powell is one of the most underrated midfielders in League Two. While he perhaps doesn’t get the plaudits all that regularly or catch the headlines, Powell is the type of player that just goes quietly about his business and someone that contributes significantly to the overall function of the team than many give credit for. He is a tidy technician that sits at the base of midfield, keeps things ticking over, makes clever use of the ball and is wonderfully press-resistant in always showing a willingness to receive the ball and get attacks going. 

Powell is the type of signing that I think a top-end National League side could look at as a marquee addition this summer, yet I maintain that he is still more than good enough in League Two. While he isn’t the most mobile or athletic of midfield profiles, I think there is a lot of value in having that midfield operator that can keep things neat and tidy, retain possession and control the tempo of a game. He screens the back four well, always showing himself as an option to receive the ball, and is technically strong off either foot.

At his most effective, Powell is a #6. He has got a lovely passing range, good vision, a delicate weight of pass, and someone that will receive the ball from the backline on the half turn. His appreciation for when to play quick, one and two touches at speed is strong, and he has got a lovely balance between recycling the ball and in playing vertically through midfield to progress the ball through the thirds. 

The midfielder is 32 years of age, and so he would offer The Mariners some experience to go alongside what they have got. The Mariners tend to favour a younger profile of player, and so being able to find those one or two more intelligent players that have ‘been there and done it’ over the years in League Two is incredibly useful. At times last season, I felt that they perhaps found it tough to manage games when under pressure and so having someone that can just take the tempo out of the game and make clever decisions on the ball is welcomed. 

I am a massive fan of the former Railwaymen midfielder, and I think he would provide the stylistic qualities that they have had this term in George McEachran’s role as a deep-lying midfielder. In terms of technical profile, I don’t think that The Mariners are going to find many better on the market.

Donay O’Brien-Brady (Peterborough United – fee)

One player that has become available since the end of the 2025-26 campaign that is yet to sign for a new club this summer and that particularly excites me is Peterborough United academy product Donay O’Brien-Brady. He has been made available for transfer, and I feel that the young midfielder would represent an exciting addition for The Mariners. 

As a profile, O’Brien-Brady is what I think The Mariners midfield is crying out for. Evan Khouri has left the club this summer and they retain the aging Jamie Walker, and so I do feel that there is scope for them to add some energy and athleticism. While The Mariners are a hard-working outfit under David Artell, I think that adding a midfield player that is more comfortable in transitional football, covering space and is agile to get about the pitch would be hugely welcomed. As such, I feel O’Brien-Brady represents a good fit. 

The youngster has got a great engine, with a nimble turn of direction and lightning quick. While a fair bit of his football with The Posh has come out wide, I feel he offers real value centrally in being able to carry the ball with his dynamism and create separation from his marker. I feel that The Mariners could do with that profile of midfielder that is capable of picking the ball up from deeper positions, driving the ball forward and being really penetrative in his running in attacking space. 

That said, O’Brien-Brady has got the versatility such that he can be used in a number of roles. He has played at full-back, and I think he offers a good option there with his ability to invert and make in-to-out runs and isolate the opposition. His best attributes are his agility and speed, and I would like to see him used as an #8 alongside more of a technician. 

One of the main reasons as to why I am such a big advocate for this signing is due to the fact that David Artell is in charge of The Mariners. I rate Artell incredibly highly, and he has shown throughout his career that there are not many better than him in terms of youth development and giving young players a platform to thrive and reach their potential. I am not in the camp that O’Brien-Brady is not a talented player – in fact I feel much the opposite – but I do think that his development could’ve been slightly differently managed at times. I feel that needs to go into an environment in which his minutes can be managed properly, and platformed right. 

While The Mariners will be looking to go one better on last season, I think that they can afford to have a project or two within the group. O’Brien-Brady is 22 years of age, has already played close to 40 games in League One for Peterborough United over the past two years, and is capable of playing in a number of different positions. He provides value, good long-term potential and the type of player that I could quite see thriving under David Artell’s leadership. Despite an underwhelming campaign with The Posh, I feel that the youngster will still have his fair share of suitors. 

The Mariners are not likely to be spending big sums of money to try and get out of League Two, but if they are to loosen the purse strings somewhat then I think a player with such tremendous potential such as O’Brien-Brady could well be that.

Oli Lynch (Luton Town – loan)

The final player on this list that I would look at if I were in David Artell’s position is young forward Oli Lynch. Currently on the books of League One Luton Town, the Hatters youngster comes off the back of a campaign in the National League with mid-table Tamworth and is someone that I have been a big fan of for the last 18 months. If I am Lynch, I’d be looking to go out on loan again during 2026-27 and so if he does then I think The Mariners could well be a sensible option for him. 

If I am Luton Town, I would be looking to get Oli Lynch a loan in League Two this season. He spent a short period with Hemel Hempstead during the 2024-25 campaign and the youngster particularly impressed, and he then backed that up with a fruitful loan spell leading the line for Andy Peak’s Tamworth in the National League. For the sake of his development, I would try to negotiate an opportunity to go and test himself higher. The next logical step at which to pitch him for a loan is in League Two, and so Grimsby Town definitely tick that box. 

One of the reasons as to why I am a big fan of Lynch – especially off the back of the last 12 months with The Lambs – is the fact that he has shown himself to be incredibly self-sufficient in the way that he plays. Tamworth are not one of the more inventive sides from open play, and so leading the line for Andy Peaks’ side he has had to develop a real maturity and selfless play style such that he is able to create opportunities for others around him and when he gets that chance develop that composure in his ball-striking. 

As a profile, I feel that Lynch represents the ‘best of both worlds’. He is suitably physical with a good frame and an industrious work-rate to lead the line as a presence and provide a platform for his side, yet he is equally adept as a secondary striker with the agile movement and turn of pace in behind off the shoulder. During his time with The Tudors, Lynch demonstrated his tenacity to drive the ball to goal, commit defenders and attack space, yet with The Lambs he has developed a maturity to his game. 

For The Mariners, I think that Lynch could dovetail quite nicely alongside Andy Cook. Lynch isn’t going to be the athletic, pressing machine that they Town had last season in the form of Jaze Kabia that had a relentless willingness to run in behind and chase down lost causes, but I feel that he links the play well, got a nice all-round mix of skillsets to receive the ball into feet and be competent in the air, and has got a range of finishes to his game. He is particularly effective when pinning defenders and getting on the half-turn and using his agility in behind. 

I feel that signing for The Mariners would be another really useful development opportunity for the youngster, not least the fact that he is able to play alongside one of the best strikers that I have seen in the lower leagues consistently over the last decade. Cook makes efficient use of his body, develops a good picture of how the play develops around him, and he conserves his energy in making clever runs that maximise turnovers in finding pockets of space in and around the opposition penalty area. If The Hatters loan him out, I feel he should end up at Blundell Park.