Sweeney: The players welcome new boss

PETER Sweeney said today's appointment of Neil Woods as Grimsby Town's permanent manager was welcomed by the players.

The 25-year-old midfielder praised the impact Woods has had in the Town dressing room during his six games in charge of the team on a caretaker basis following Mike Newell's sacking on October 18.

Sweeney, who started the Mariners' 0-0 draw against local rivals Lincoln on Saturday, said: "I am delighted Woods has got the job and I'm sure the rest of the players are.

"I thought Mike Newell was a great manager and I still have a lot of respect for him, but Woods came in and had to fill Mike's shoes, and I think he's been great.

"He has come in and added new things. He has highlighted what he thought we needed to work on and it's working.

"We are not letting in goals and it's just a case of improving in the final third now.

"But once we get a couple of goals, more and more will follow."

Sweeney says that although a new man has not been brought in for the managerial hotseat, all the team will be looking to impress the former Youth team boss when the Mariners face Bradford City on Tuesday night at Blundell Park.

And the former Leeds United player is aware that some fans will be concerned about Town's record of nine league games without a win.

Sweeney said: "We'll all of course be looking to impress on Tuesday night against Bradford and get the three points.

"We will continue to listen to what Woods' views are and hear how he wants us to play.

"It will be a tough game. Bradford always is – they are a big club.

"We'll be looking to build on our performance against Lincoln and will go into the game full of confidence.

"We just need to get a few more efforts in on goal and play a bit more confidently when we are in the final third.

"The way we played and worked together at Lincoln I thought was brave and I enjoyed every minute of it.

"I can't wait to get out there for the next game to be honest.

"Being a former Leeds player, I might attract the attention of the Bradford fans, but if they boo it won't bother me. I'm used to it after the game at Leeds and I've had enough boos throughout my career for it not to bother me.

"I'll try to score a similar goal to the one at Elland Road to silence them."