YORK City say rumours linking Michael Coulson with a January return to Grimsby Town are unfounded.

Sources on the North East Lincolnshire coast say the Mariners are keen on taking the forward back to Blundell Park, three and a half years after he left the club for Bootham Crescent on a free transfer.

The 27-year-old, who became something of a fan favourite in his three years there, has seen his appearances at City this term limited to only 13 matches, predominantly due to injury, and is out of contract in the summer.

But the Minstermen told The Press the speculation of an imminent move to the National League promotion-chasers was a "no-go" and a "non-story".

Coulson started his career with home-town club Scarborough before joining Barnsley.

The winger played under current Grimsby boss Paul Hurst in his last spell at Blundell Park, when Hurst was joint-manager with Rob Scott, but, after more than a century of appearances for the club, he rejected a new deal before and moved to Bootham Crescent.

He has been touted as one a number of signings Hurst would like to recruit before the end of the current transfer window.

Coulson has played 117 times in all for City, scoring 21 goals. He returned to action after 12 weeks on the sidelines due to a groin injury as a second-half substitute in Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to League Two relegation rivals Newport County.