Former Bolton Wanderers and Rochdale defender Joe Bunney secures deadline day Football League move to Grimsby Town after leaving Hartlepool United

The versatile left-back left Hartlepool United in January to pursue a return to the EFL.

He arrived at Pools in late November and went on to make five appearances in all competitions.

And in the closing hours of the winter transfer window, League Two side Grimsby announced the arrival of the 27-year-old.

Bunney has signed a deal at Blundell Park until the end of the 2020-21 campaign – The Mariners currently sit 23rd in the fourth tier.

Upon joining Grimsby, Bunney told the club website: "Definitely [happy to be back in the EFL], I've been out of the League for a year now, but I have been working incredibly hard to get back into it and I am glad that this opportunity has come.

"The table is not nice to look at at the minute obviously, but I have been in these situations before and managed to stay up and get out of trouble and come through those testing times, so hopefully I will be able to use my experience to pass on things to some of the younger lads here and keep us in the League.

"Us in this position didn't matter to me, there's still about half the season to go, I have spoken to the manager about everything, so hopefully I can come in, win some games and climb that table.

"I have come here to help this club win games, climb the table and remain in this League so hopefully that can happen".

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