Grimsby Town: Mariners Trust double transfer fund target

Chris Hurst could see his transfer options increase as a result of money raised by fans

Grimsby Town manager Paul Hurst could be handed a bulging transfer kitty as a fund comprising supporters donations has doubled its target.

The Mariners finished third in the Conference but lost a play-off final penalty shootout to Bristol Rovers.

Determined to see their side promoted, a supporters' trust set a donation target of £20,000 but more than £41,000 has been contributed inside a week.

Grimsby Town have over six weeks left for their transfer fund appeal to run

The project, named #operationpromotion, ends on 26 July.

Local Euromillions winners Lee and Susan Mullen have also agreed to match the money raised with a donation of their own up to the value of £20,000, increasing the prospect of a six-figure sum being generated.

It may not prove enough to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale or even Mario Balotelli, but such income should make a strong impact in a league where clubs typically acquire players through free transfers or loan moves.

The Lincolnshire club has benefitted from supporter generosity in the past, as fans part-funded the signing of Republic of Ireland international Joe Waters in 1976 and Italian striker Ivano Bonetti in 1995.

Grimsby were relegated from League Two in 2010 but have finished in the top four of the Conference in each of the past three seasons.

Over 1,100 donations have been made and the Mariners Trust are now targeting £50,000 for what they hope will be a "Conference assault".