Having both been rejected by the management team of Rob Scott and Paul Hurst, Boston United and Conor Marshall are probably a suitable match.

This time last year, the 18-year-old was one of the stars of the Grimsby Town youth set-up.

The Mariners manager at the time, Neil Woods, had promised him a professional contract and the future was looking rosy for the promising defender.

Then Woods, Marshall's mentor at Blundell Park since the age of 11, was sacked.

He was replaced by highly-rated Boston managers Scott and Hurst, who forced their departure from York Street by resigning.

Marshall then picked up an injury and the pair never saw the best of the teenager, who was released earlier this season.

"Neil (Wood) was my manager in the youth team before getting taken on as manager, but unfortunately he was let go which was unlucky for me because I'd been told I was getting a pro deal while he was there," explained the Pilgrims' new right-back.

"Then Rob Scott and Paul Hurst came in and during my last youth team game for Grimsby I got injured.

"They told me to come back during pre-season, but I wasn't as fit as I was before I got injured.

"I was there for the first half of the season, but they had players in my position in front of me and that was it. They didn't have space for me so I moved on.

"I left there and I've been playing at Brigg Town in the Evo-Stik League."

After a brief spell at Brigg under former Lincoln City manager Peter Daniel, the defender was snapped up by Boston and made an impressive debut in the goal-less draw with Nuneaton last weekend.

"Boston must have been watching me and spoken to the managers at Grimsby, who put in a good word for me," added Marshall, who comes from nearby Skegness.

"After training three times with the team, I was in the squad on Saturday. I've fitted in with lads really well.

"It's been a very up and down season, but now I've come to Boston hopefully I can get a regular spot in the team.

"It's my local team, I was born in Boston, so I'm very excited to be joining."

Having played two levels below Blue Square Bet North for Brigg, Marshall believes he can make the step up.

"It (the Evo-Stik League) is not a bad level, it's just more physical," he said.

"If you go up a couple of levels, it's gets more technical, which is my sort of game.

"It's not a bad league, but not the sort of league I wanted to be playing in.

"The step up noticeable, it's a lot quicker with a higher standard of players."

Marshall and his new team-mates travel to Corby Town on Saturday aiming to build on their impressive performance against Nuneaton.

The sides drew 1-1 at York Street earlier this season.

"We all knew how frustrating it was when they (Corby) came to our place," said joint-boss Jason Lee. "It was a horrible match and we got caught up in their game.

"We know what they're about physically. The boys need to put in a performance similar, if not better, than last Saturday."

Boston's former first-choice right-back, Jordan Fairclough, has left the club.