Grimsby Town captain James McKeown has praised interim manager Anthony Limbrick and coach Ben Davies for their work at Cheapside training ground.

Limbrick and Davies were given interim roles following Michael Jolley’s departure from Blundell Park two weeks ago.

And goalkeeper McKeown says the pair have helped Town improve, as well as beginning to instil a style of play.

Speaking exclusively on iFollow Mariners, he said: “Training has been really good. Ben has obviously come in, and obviously I played with him so I know what he’s like as a person, and he’s matured!

“Ben and Anthony have been brilliant, and the lads have really enjoyed it.

“I think it’s important that we try and get an identity and the fans come to Blundell Park knowing what to expect when they watch us.

 

“I don’t particularly like going on about the past, but most people would know an Alan Buckley team because of its identity.

“And I think Anthony is trying to implement that, and that’s a key thing for us moving forward because I think eventually that leads to a long-term plan.

“The last week has been good, but ultimately we want to win a game of football, and it is an issue how long we’ve not won for.

“The postponement of games hasn’t helped us in this situation – we’ve drawn two of our last three league games 0-0, but it feels like a long time ago since that draw with Cambridge United.

“It doesn’t feel like a place that hasn’t won for a while, but we’re obviously well aware that it’s not good enough and we need to win a game of football.

 

“But the atmosphere around the place is really good, the lads are really enjoying training – it’s been really good, and the dressing room is together.

“So from that point of view nothing can really be better – it’s just getting the win and that’s what we’re paid to do at the end of the day.

“But we’ve got no game this weekend, after an improved performance on Tuesday night, and you could see what we were trying to do, and we passed the ball well.

“I’m not stupid – I know that it’s about winning football games, but I think we’re doing well around the place.”

And the 30-year-old hailed the Town fans’ magnificent support, after they applauded the Mariners off the pitch in the 0-0 Sky Bet League Two draw with Cheltenham Town on Tuesday.

 

He said: “I speak to people around the town and all they ever say to me is that they want a team that gives 100 per cent.

“They say ‘Give us 100 per cent, and we don’t care if you win, lose, or draw.’

“And I know that we obviously want to win still, but as an absolute bare minimum we should always be giving 100 per cent.

“And from the last three games that we’ve played under Anthony, you couldn’t deny that we’ve given 100 per cent, and certainly Tuesday night.

“I think performances have improved in each game, but Tuesday night we gave 100 per cent and added quality, and we were good on the ball.

“And hopefully, in turn, that eventually starts to lead to wins and us moving up the table.

“Our position in the table really isn’t that bad – if we get one win from our two games in hand we’ll leap four or five places up the table.”