SHAUN PEARSON has explained why he made a last minute u-turn and decided to re-join former club Grimsby Town rather than sign a new deal with Wrexham.

The 32-year-old, who has been captain since arriving at The Racecourse in the summer of 2017, was offered a new contract by the Reds for the 2021/22 season and terms had been agreed with the centre-back.

However, with Pearson set to put pen to paper on Tuesday afternoon, he informed the club that he had received another offer from Mariners manager Paul Hurst.

With his wife and her family from Grimsby, and with her family still based there, Pearson subsequently elected to return to Blundell Park where he has signed a two-year-deal.

“If there was one club that was going to pull me away, it was this one,” said Pearson. “Purely because of everything that goes with it.

“A lot of other clubs I wouldn’t have been interested.

“I was going to come back in and sign the contract at Wrexham but Paul Hurst contacted me to talk about a player, and said he wanted me back.

“I phoned Shaun Harvey and asked for time to think about it and listen to the offer.

“I felt I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to return to Grimsby.”

Wrexham are looking for a new boss having decided not to offer Dean Keates a new deal after the Reds missed out on a play-off spot.

Pearson, only offered a one-year contract extension, admits not being able to discuss where he stood in the manager’s plans at The Racecourse did not help Wrexham’s cause.

“That was definitely a factor in the decision as well,” Pearson said about having the security of a two-year deal at Grimsby.

“It was nice to have that faith put in you and just feel valued.

“That is not a dig at Wrexham but with no manager in place, I couldn’t have that conversation to see where I would be in the plans of the new management team.

“It was difficult not being able to do that and at the same time, I didn’t have time to wait around for that to happen because Grimsby wanted to move onto somebody else if they didn’t get me.

“I just felt this was the best for me and my family but also for me playing-wise.

"It was there in front of me and I have got a great relationship with Paul Hurst.

“He has put that faith in me and I am hoping to repay him.”

Pearson, immediately installed as club captain when he signed for Wrexham, finished his first campaign as Player of the Season and he went on to make 132 league appearances in four seasons for the Reds.

But after rejoining Grimsby who were relegated from the Football League this season, Pearson believes the future is bright for Wrexham who were taken over by Holywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds in February.

“I am sure they will move on pretty quickly once they appoint a new manager,” said Pearson.

“With everything that is going on, I am sure they will have good players and good people coming through the door.”