The Mariners were relegated from Division One. Despite flowing goals fromClive Mendonca and good performances fromJohn Oster and newcomerKingsley Black, Grimsby failed to save themselves. The club had suffered from the losses of ever-present goalkeeperPaul Crichton andGary Croft, who made a £1.5 million move toBlackburn Rovers. ManagerBrian Laws had been sacked late in 1996;John Cockerill andKenny Swain both had stints as caretaker during the season. At the end of the season, former managerAlan Buckley, who had taken Grimsby from the Fourth to the old Second Division in his first stint in charge, rejoined the club in an attempt to take Grimsby back to the second tier.
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Tommy Widdrington
Kingsley Black
Paul Trollope
Enzo Gambaro
Sturm Graz
Jim Dobbin