Edwards' U-turn disappoints Thurrock boss (From Thurrock Gazette)

Edwards' U-turn disappoints Thurrock boss

5:34pm Friday 23rd June 2006

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THURROCK manager Hakan Hayrettin has spoken of his disappointment after midfielder Craig Edwards reneged on a deal to join the Ship Lane club and instead opted to join Conference South rivals Bishop's Stortford.

The Thurrock boss was particularly disappointed that the player didn't even let him know personally, instead the news was conveyed by his dad, also named Craig, a former boss at Grays Athletic and Chelmsford.

He said: "We had struck a deal, agreed terms and Craig had assured me that he would be coming. That's why I made the announcement. I'm not a manager who likes to speculate or promise to deliver things that don't happen which is why I'm always cautious and perhaps why it sometimes seems like there's not a lot going on, even though I can assure all supporters of the club that I'm being very busy.

"However, earlier this week I got a phone call from Craig's dad saying that he was having second thoughts. He said he felt that Bishops Stortford were a bigger and better club.

"Well I'm not sure that's true but it's up to Craig to make his decision. I'd like to know when Bishops last finished above Thurrock in the table. They were ten points behind Thurrock last season and that was deemed to be a disappointing one for this club so I'm not sure how Craig works it all out.

"I'm disappointed that he didn't have the decency to tell me himself. Perhaps I was wrong in my judgement of his qualities as a man, though I still think he is a decent player and it's a disappointment to me that he won't be here.

"That said, I regard it as his loss as much as ours and I'm not going to lose sleep over it. I will find another player of similar calibre who, more importantly, does want to play for us.

"I wish Craig well. Life is too short to make enemies and fall out. It's about truth and honesty and getting on with the job. If Craig didn't want to be a part of what we are building, so be it."

Hayrettin is also looking at Edwards' former club Chelmsford to complete another piece of his teambuilding jigsaw.

"I have spoken at length to keeper Gavin King who says he wants to join us and I think he will be an asset to us. That said, we haven't finalised the deal so I may be premature in announcing it but I want people to know we are not standing still and waiting for things to happen.

"We will have a squad here at the start of the season that will do a great job. Have no doubt about that!"

One man who won't be part of that squad is defender Dave Collis who has signed, alongside Edwards, at Stortford.

Collis was not believed to be part of Hayrettin's plans.

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