The duo are rumoured to be on the verge of a double move to First Division Gillingham in a deal worth around £100,000 to the Mariners.
Groves is desperate to keep both players. But faces an unwelcome task to do so. Boulding's £45,000 release clause means that Groves would be powerless to stop his star striker leaving, providing that low fee is met.
Pouton, like Boulding, is out of contract in the summer and is unlikely to fancy another season in the 2nd Division. The club will view the offer as better than losing the pair in the summer for nothing.
Speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph, Groves stated his wishes for the pair to remain with the club, however he is fully aware that the selling nature of the club dictates all. No informal bid has yet been made from Gillingham, that Groves is aware of.
"There has been no interest through me. It goes without saying that I don't want them to leave," Groves told the newspaper.
"They're our best players. But this football club has always been the same, and I don't think it will change.
"If clubs make offers for players then it has to look at those bids and decide on them on their merits.
"I think at this stage of the season with the transfer window being open there is going to be a lot of speculation.
"When you look at the squad, and people like Michael who has scored a goal in every other game since he came back, he is going to get linked with other clubs.
"He's in the goalscoring charts and he will get linked. That's only natural.
"When you look at Pouts, just back from injury, he's played in the first division and held his own there. He's another one that will naturally get linked with clubs."
Meanwhile Groves has denied speculation he's set to hang up his playing boots after chairman Peter Furneaux said the board wouldn't object.
Groves is desperate to keep both players. But faces an unwelcome task to do so. Boulding's £45,000 release clause means that Groves would be powerless to stop his star striker leaving, providing that low fee is met.
Pouton, like Boulding, is out of contract in the summer and is unlikely to fancy another season in the 2nd Division. The club will view the offer as better than losing the pair in the summer for nothing.
Speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph, Groves stated his wishes for the pair to remain with the club, however he is fully aware that the selling nature of the club dictates all. No informal bid has yet been made from Gillingham, that Groves is aware of.
"There has been no interest through me. It goes without saying that I don't want them to leave," Groves told the newspaper.
"They're our best players. But this football club has always been the same, and I don't think it will change.
"If clubs make offers for players then it has to look at those bids and decide on them on their merits.
"I think at this stage of the season with the transfer window being open there is going to be a lot of speculation.
"When you look at the squad, and people like Michael who has scored a goal in every other game since he came back, he is going to get linked with other clubs.
"He's in the goalscoring charts and he will get linked. That's only natural.
"When you look at Pouts, just back from injury, he's played in the first division and held his own there. He's another one that will naturally get linked with clubs."
Meanwhile Groves has denied speculation he's set to hang up his playing boots after chairman Peter Furneaux said the board wouldn't object.