Bristol Rovers academy manager Chris Hargreaves is being linked with the vacant manager role at League Two club Grimsby Town following the departure of Michael Jolley.

Hargreaves first arrived at The Memorial Stadium in 2016 as the under-23 manager, before stepping up as the assistant manager to Graham Coughlan for the second half of last season. In the summer, a backroom staff reshuffle saw Hargreaves handed the role of academy manager.

The links of Hargreaves to Grimsby may feel like they have come out of the blue for some, however delving deeper into the 47-year-old's background, he was born in Cleethorpes and came through the youth academy at the club, going on to make 51 league appearances for his hometown club in the early 1990's.

As a midfielder in his playing days, Hargreaves went on to play for Scarborough, Hull  City, West Bromwich Albion, Hereford United, Plymouth Argyle, Northampton Town, Brentford, Oxford United and Torquay.

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The former Rovers assistant also has experience as a manager, having taken charge of League Two side Torquay United in January 2014 but the side suffered relegation under his tutelage, and he coached the Devon side through 74 games with a win percentage of 36.5%.

The Verdict

Hargreaves may not be the most glamorous choice for the Grimsby role, however the move would make sense.

For personal reasons, he would be moving back home and from a work point of view, it would be his chance to get his name back on the managerial map, as well as having plenty of contacts around to help him.