Abbo on Player Movements
Manager Carl Abbott has sent the following message to the club’s supporters regarding player movements ahead of 2015-16…
‘I am bitterly disappointed to announce that three of our summer additions have decided not to honour the commitment they had made to me and the club during the pre-season break, and have decided to pursue football elsewhere next season.
The players in question, and the clubs they have decided to join, are: Shane Benjamin – Highgate United, Darious Darkin – Halesowen Town and Connoll Farrell – Bedworth United.
I, alongside the management team, have worked tremendously hard over the summer on recruitment, putting may hours and miles into meeting and talking with these players amongst others – and subsequently these players had made a firm commitment to myself and the club, despite overtures from other clubs.
On making these additions speculation was rife that our club was financially stretching itself, and perhaps operating beyond its means. This is most certainly not the case.
We have ensured, and will continue to ensure, that we are working within the modest parameters set by the football club, and will remain dedicated to recruiting the best player possible and available to us within the budget afforded to us by the Board of Directors.
This has now been borne out by the fact that other clubs have picked off these players with relative ease, each seemingly unwilling to return to the negotiating table to salvage the deals. As a result of this we now accept that Shane, Darious and Connoll will not be Hinckley AFC players next season.
I am disappointed and from a personal point of view I do simply have to accept that a player’s word sometimes can be hollow, and even in signing a registration form you in no way safeguard and protect your asset. This is indicative of non-league football nowadays, and in some cases is a sad indictment on the players themselves. It’s a shame that you cannot make an agreement, shake hands and feel secure about that business that you have done.
All that said, what remains is a fantastic group of players who I can hang my hat on, who have dismissed enquiries from other clubs throughout the summer, and remain committed to representing you and I, and bringing success to this football club.
We continue to work on the additions to the squad and have some very intriguing options presenting themselves to us in the training sessions.
We want players who are buying into the vision we have here, and will match the heart and passion I have seen in bucket loads both last season, and in the early pre-season sessions this term from our existing squad. That is the criteria for becoming a player with us this season.
Myself and Paul remain convinced that come the first game of the season, a squad will be in place which will challenge from the first game to the last and will do you proud.
I hope like me, you all remain positive despite this set back, and have every confidence in our fantastic squad.
As a side issue, I also regret to inform that Danny Kavanagh has decided to leave the club, opting to play his football next season with Bedworth United Under 21s. I have spoken at length to Danny about this decision, and it baffles me that a player would want to step back from senior football with a big club, where he is excelling, to return to ‘Development’ football. Having spoken with Danny I am none the wiser. Perhaps he found the physical rigours a little much and struggled to adapt to the intensity – I am unsure of the reasons at the heart of his decision but wish him well, and sincerely hope that the step backwards does not detract from his undoubted potential. He is welcome to return to the club anytime.
I look forward to seeing you all and speaking with you all again very soon!
Yours in Sport,
Abbo’
