Nick proud to lead Town

IRISH goalkeeper Nick Colgan says he is honoured to wear the captain's armband for Grimsby Town.

Colgan took over from teenager Ryan Bennett following the defender's departure to Peterborough United last month.

And the 36-year-old is hoping to follow the lead of some illustrious Town skippers of years gone-by.

Colgan, who was captain for the first time at Bournemouth in caretaker boss Neil Woods' first game at the helm, said: "I'm very privileged to get given the armband and there's a lot of pride there for me.

"I'm greatly honoured that Neil has asked me to do the job.

"People might say because I'm a goalkeeper I shouldn't be the captain, but I don't agree with that.

"Neil's asked me to take it on as I'm probably the most experienced in the squad.

"I'd like to think that some of my professionalism rubs off on some of the other lads.

"There have been some great skippers for Grimsby in the past.

"When I was here last time in 1994, Paul Groves was captain and he was one hell of a captain.

"If I can be half what he was then I'd be more than happy."

Colgan is brimming with pride to be leading out the Mariners, but the former Sunderland stopper says his duties are minimal when the game gets underway.

He believes Town need a team full of leaders to navigate their way out of League Two's drop zone.

He added: "For me, the captain is the one who shakes hands with the referee before the game, tosses the coin and gets his picture taken with a little kid who's mascot on the day.

"That to me is it, because everyone on the pitch has a role to play.

"Everybody on the pitch needs to be a leader – not just the captain – because everybody is captain of their own individual area and job."