Kyle Bennett’s career limbo at Bristol Rovers looks to be coming to an end with Ian Holloway’s Grimsby Town hoping to take the winger on loan for the rest of the season, Bristol Live understands.
Bennett was not named in Ben Garner’s squad for the 2020/21 season and hasn’t trained with the first team since the summer as the club pursued an exit for the 30-year-old.
Bennett is out of contract next summer and this window represents the last one where the Gas could recoup some semblance of a transfer fee for him.
However, that plan has been optimistic with the expectation now that Bennett will spend the rest of the season at Blundell Park before leaving Rovers on a free.
It’s unclear what sort of contribution the Mariners will be making towards Bennett’s wages with his salary a financial millstone around the neck of the club for at least the last two seasons.
After being signed by Darrell Clarke on a free transfer in January 2018, Bennett has been unable to command a regular starting spot under Graham Coughlan and now Garner, but has remained one of the highest-paid members of the squad.
An anticipated move to Swindon never materialised due to the Robins inability to match his wages after a successful loan spell in the second half of the 2018/19 season.
But with Holloway keen to add additional flair in the final third, Bennett’s considerable League Two experience - the division in which he has shone consistently - makes him an attractive option.
With the domestic transfer window open until October 16, Grimsby have plenty of time to get the deal done.
From Rovers’ perspective that will leave just Abu Ogogo as the only member of the first-team squad they are actively trying to sell with the defensive midfielder also in exile since the summer.
