David Artell has praised the ‘fantastic job’ Michael Jolley has achieved at Grimsby Town this season.
After keeping the Mariners in the EFL last season, the former Crewe Alexandra Academy manager, has stabilised the club in the division this time around and they are comfortably clear of trouble on 53 points.
Jolley, 42, is one of the youngest serving managers in the EFL and he goes head-to-head with Artell, who is four years his junior. Artell replaced Jolley as Academy Manager at Crewe before succeeding Steve Davis as manager in January 2017.
Jolley went to coach Burnley's Under-23s before a short stint in Sweden as manager of AFC Eskilstuna.
Ahead of our final game of the season, David said: “Mike has done a terrific job at Grimsby. He has really stabilised the club there because I think it is fair to say it was a club on the slide when he took over last year. He did very well to keep them up.
“They probably have not finished the season as they would have wanted but they had some great runs and I think they were once 8th or 9th at one point. That was a great achievement, probably overachieving but they have never been in any danger. They have been comfortable and are heading in the right direction.
“Mike is an intelligent guy and very methodical in his approach. He is very organised and thoughtful and his preparation is always very good. That makes Grimsby a dangerous opponent. We will respect Mike and his team but we won’t fear them and I am sure he will be thinking the same about us. It should be a good game to end the season.”