On his return to fitness, Pringle was loaned out to First Division outfit Grimsby Town, along with Charlton teammate Andy Todd, in February 2002. He made his debut for his new team in a 0–0 away draw with Nottingham Forest on 23 February 2002. In his second game for the Mariners, with the score 3–1 in their favour against Stockport County, opposition defender Dave Challinor went in for a challenge on Pringle, which would break one of his legs in two places. He was rushed immediately to the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby.