Groves interested in a cut-rate Sharpe

Groves initially denied reports on Monday linking The Mariners with a move for the veteran midfielder.

Sharpe is out-of-contract with Division One side Bradford City and is on the lookout for a new club.

Groves confirmed that he would be interested in taking on the 30-year-old but that any deal would be conditioned to Sharpe's wage demands.

He is currently earning around £10,000-a-week with the Valley Parade side and Groves admits that Sharpe would have to accept a deal paying less than a third of his current wages, in order to fall in line with the Blundell Park wage structure.

Groves told the Grimsby Telegraph: "The player has been put to me by an agent, but any deal depends on how realistic the player is in terms of money or what offers he gets elsewhere.

"He's somebody who would come into the category that we're looking for and he would strengthen the squad.

"We're interested in quality First Division players and I'm not going to rule out a move for anybody."

Sharpe played over 200 matches for The Red Devils before a £4.5million move to Leeds United in 1996 and has since moved to The Bantams for a much-reduced £200,000 in June 1999.

He was capped eight times by England but a succession of injuries have ruined his career and this season, he has struggled to hold down a first-team place with Nicky Law's side. However, Sharpe may also be considering offers from America with clubs in Major League Soccer.