Grimsby Town have announced that caretaker manager Neil Woods has been handed the job on a permanent basis.

The former youth team boss took temporary charge of the Mariners last month following Mike Newell's dismissal and has since guided the struggling League Two outfit to three draws and a defeat from his four games at the helm.

Prior to his coaching career, he had a successful eight-year stay with the Lincolnshire outfit.

After impressing the club's hierarchy, he has signed a contract that will keep him at Blundell Park until the end of the 2010/11 season and he will be expected to avoid relegation to the Conference this term.

Woods' first game as permanent manager will be against Bradford City at home on Tuesday night.