Clare out on loan again - January 3, 2001
Why Ireland's Daryl Clare can't get into Grimsby's first team even though they are struggling is anybody's guess. But the player is not sitting around doing nothing. Instead he has decided to join third-division Cheltenham on a month's loan.
The 22-year-old, Jersey-born midfield dynamo returned to Grimsby after a month's loan at Northampton just before Christmas. His aim was to push for first-team football but this did not materialise, so he has decided to drop two divisions and help Cheltenham in their time of need.
Cheltenham are in the middle of an horrific injury crisis and after talks with Grimsby skipper Paul Groves the Irishman decided he would go there and help.
Daryl said: "Paul is friendly with the Cheltenham manager and had told me bits and bobs about the club.
"He said it was a well-run club which played good football and that the lads had a brilliant team spirit. He went on Cheltenham's team coach to a game last season and said he got a real good feel about the place.
"When Steve (Cotterill, the former Sligo Rovers boss) rang me the other night I wasn't too keen about moving again, but I just want to play.
"If you are not going to play at your own club, you have to look around and I'm just doing what every footballer would do.
"Steve assured me I would enjoy it at Cheltenham and I'm looking forward to it - even though the first game is at Torquay and will be an eight-hour trip."