Return of the Phil?

Last updated : 04 September 2003 By Site Staff
Jevons is currently recovering from a thigh strain that has kept him sidelined since the clubs pre-season tour of Ibiza.

Furneaux and Jevons clashed upon returning home with allegations that the player refused to accept a paycut in his contract. Furneaux claimed that the club could not afford to pay both his wages (plus apperance money) and the money owed to Jevons should he play more games.

Jevons fought back by saying he had agreed a 30% paycut and would waive his apperance money until when the club could afford it, in return for an extra year on his contract.

The ex-Everton youngster also claimed that Furneaux humiliated him in front of the youth team by threatening to prevent him from training with the first team and ordering the kitman not to issue him any kit.

Until today it looked like Jevons would sit in the stands for the rest of his contract unless he could find a loan or transfer away from Blundell Park. However with Paul Groves struggling to get a new striker in, Jevons could return once he's fit according to Furneaux.

"He's changed his agent and we have to see what the player's attitude is," Furneaux told the Grimsby Telegraph. "I've put nothing in the way of him coming back if he's changed and he wants to play.

"He's been unfit. But if he's got the right sort of attitude, the manager wants him and things can be agreed then we can go forward.

"We're not pushing anything. We're waiting to see what his new agent says and the manager is now dealing with it.

"But, at the moment, there is only talk because the player is not fit yet. We're trying to get him fit and what happens after that is between the manager, the agent and the player.

"My idea was to get things moving. If that's happened, then that's great because we only want players who want to play for Grimsby Town at this club."