Evans blasts 'unethical' Slade

Ben Futcher is at the centre of a storm brewing between Grimsby Town and Boston United.

The giant centre half moved from Boston to Blundell Park during the January transfer window and Pilgrims manager Steve Evans claims that he has a gentlemen's agreement with Grimsby counterpart Russell Slade stating that Futcher will not play when the two sides meet on Saturday.

But Slade says he is currently in the midst of a defensive crisis in Cleethorpes and he claims that he will have no option other than to include 'Big Ben' in his 16-man squad.

That news has not been warmly received at York Street, with Evans blasting: "If Russ Slade, who I know very well and get on with, plays Ben on Saturday then I hope he doesn't have any mirrors in his house when he wakes up on Sunday morning, because I don't think he'll be able to look himself in the face if he breaks this agreement.

"When Ben moved there we had a verbal agreement and a handshake that he wouldn't play against us, so for Russell to break that would be morally and ethically wrong."

First choice Grimsby centre back Justin Whittle is still a week away from resuming training, while Rob Jones is rated as doubtful with a groin problem.

"It depends on the defenders we have available," Slade told his club's official website. "He will definitely be included in my sixteen though." 

Evans will be further incensed when he considers that former Hartlepool centre half Glen Downey is fit and raring to go, while full backs John McDermott and Gary Croft have both filled in as emergency central defenders on previous occasions.