Grimsby Town have opted to extend the contract of head coach David Artell, with the former Crewe Alexandra boss penning terms until 2028.
The 44-year-old joined the Lincolnshire-based team in November 2023, replacing Paul Hurst at the helm. He took over a club fighting towards the bottom of League Two and eventually secured their survival with a 21st placed finish.
In stark contrast, the Mariners defied expectations last season to push for promotion and sat in the play-off places with two games remaining. However, a 0-0 draw with MK Dons and a 1-0 defeat against AFC Wimbledon rounded off their campaign to eventually finish ninth, two points off the top seven. Despite that, their league performance was seen as a resounding success.
Artell Commits Future To Grimsby
Artell was originally under contract until next summer, with his original deal signed upon his appointment two years ago. As such, Grimsby have opted to extend his stay, announcing earlier today that the former Wrexham defender has committed his future to the club for another three years.
Speaking to official club media, the head coach immediately switched his attention to building on last season’s progress:
“I’m absolutely delighted on a personal level. I’m grateful to the owners for showing faith in the work we’re doing. We’ve made great progress, and I hope we can continue this positive trajectory into the new season and beyond.”
🤝 We are delighted to announce that Head Coach, David Artell has signed a new deal keeping him at the Club until 2028!
Proudly sponsored by DH Tuck.#GTFC
— Grimsby Town F.C. (@officialgtfc) July 7, 2025
The delight was shared by CEO Polly Bancroft, who said:
“We are thrilled that David has committed to the Club for the next three years. He’s a Head Coach we enjoy working with, and the Club has made clear strides under his leadership. We’re all excited about what the future holds with David leading the team.”
Writer’s View
Some may view this as a bold move by Grimsby. Nobody would have forgiven them for waiting until later in the year to open negotiations after the opening months of the new season had played out. If they now start badly, they are tied the head coach for a number of years. However, Artell is one of the most highly rated coaches in League Two and this will protect them if another club starts to take a fancy. This could be a shrewd piece of business for the Mariners.
