I’m not sure that in all cases this was purely a matter of money.

Steve McKimm who is 30 and had a severe knee injury during 2005/6 started playing again towards the end of the season but there have to be concerns as to potential time spent unavailable through injury in the future. He was released by Gravesend in their clearout which was probably enforced by finances (an 18% drop in attendances must have hit them hard.) Realistically continuing to play at whatever level may well have been his aim and if Margate have offered him a good deal then he would have been foolish to reject it.

Lee Protheroe who is 30 was loaned out to Margate in February and the writing must have been on the wall at that time. He was an instant success at Margate winning their player of the month award. His contract at Gravesend was terminated on the grounds of gross misconduct, though had it not been he would surely have been among those released. A permanent move to Margate was always on the cards if he settled there and wanted it.

Jay Saunders who is 27 was another released by Gravesend and had only made a start in half of their games this season. The chances are that he will end up in a Conference South side and if the rumours about his going to Lewes are correct then he is going to one of the top sides. If he has a good season he always has the chance of being picked up by a Conference National side if Lewes find themselves in the same situation as they have in the last 2 years.

Boothy who is 28 has I believe moved back South and we are back in the travel situation, not to mention the uncertainty surrounding Cambridge City beyond next season. If he is going to Lewes as rumoured he is moving to a top Conference South side and as with Jay Saunders a good season could still see him picked up by a National Conference side.

Having said all that there does seem to be an increase in player movement for financial gain. For me a classic example of this has to be Rivs who dropped 2 leagues and received a wage packet reputed to be £500 pw which was I believe £150 - £200 more than he was offered at PVR. I don’t think I would be contradicted if I was to say that Rivs had the potential to make League football if his desire had matched his talent. Regrettably, in my view, he opted for short term financial gain.

It will be interesting to see what happens at Dover as Clive Walker has set his sights on getting Dover out of the Rymans 1 and is trying to convince 2 or 3 Conference South players to take a 2 League drop and he can’t do that without spending large.


-- Edited by bruno at 15:22, 2006-05-18