Dockers demand a four-figure compensation fee for 43-goal striker Cassius

Sunday 19th July 2009

ERITH TOWN boss Steve O’Boyle has confirmed that his highly-rated striker Marcus Cassius has left the club - but his suitors must pay a four-figure compensation fee, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 19-year-old striker netted a whopping 43 goals for the Dockers last season and Blue Square Premier giants Oxford United and Blue Square South side Bromley have been interested.

“I heard he’s been training with Bromley and he did have a trial set up with Oxford,” O’Boyle told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“I don’t know how that’s gone, he was supposed to be down Oxford last week training with them.

“He’s left the club and we’re just waiting to see if Bromley are willing to pay a fee for him because we’ll get compensation because he’s come from our youth team ranks, he was on a contract. It’s all depending on if they want to pay the money.”

When asked what the transfer fee the Hayes Lane club - or any other club - will have to pay for the teenage hit-man, O’Boyle replied, “Negotiable really, but we won’t be looking to get rid of him on the cheap.

“At the end of the day, he did come through our youth team and we feel that he’s progressed as a player under Erith Town.

“He’s not one of these boys who we got him here for one season. He’s been at Erith Town for a few years and I think it’s only fair we get a little bit of money for him - it’s definitely four figures.”

The Dockers came away from Lingfield with a 1-0 victory yesterday, and O’Boyle, the former successful manager of Thamesmead Town’s reserve team, is pleased with the way his pre-season preparations are going ahead of his second season in charge.

“Pre-season’s gone well,” he said. “Our first session 62 players turned up. To be fair it was a little bit too many, but it’s obviously gone down quite a bit. We obviously got rid of players who weren’t up to the standard.

“Saturday’s game against Lingfield, first team and reserves was a good exercise. The first team won 1-0 and the reserves won 2-0.

“I thought we played some really good football. Maybe last season the one thing that we was lacking was that little bit of quality in the final third.

“We’ve actually brought players in now who have quality in that area. I’ve brought Ben Yiadom in (from Combined Counties League side Croydon), he adds a little bit of pace to the attack. I think he’s an unbelievable player.”

Dartford-born Austin Berkley, 36, signed for the club yesterday, arriving from next-door neighbours, Erith & Belvedere on a free-transfer.

He has played for Football League clubs Swindon Town, Shrewsbury Town (making 174 Football League appearances), Barnet and Carlisle United, before dropping down to play non-league football for Ebbsfleet United in 2002.

“He might be getting on a little bit, but we saw yesterday he’s got loads of talent on the ball,” added O’Boyle.

Erith Town continue their pre-season programme on Wednesday evening with a game against Gary Abbott’s Sittingbourne in what will be a BEHIND CLOSED DOORS friendly at Charlton Athletic’s training ground.

The match will be played on a 3G playing surface, similar to the one at Dartford’s Community Pitch at Princes Park.

“My goalkeeper coach works for Charlton, we’ve got a couple of games down there and there’s no room for supporters to watch the game,” said O’Boyle.

“You’re not going to turn Charlton’s training ground down for a friendly. The pitches are superb. The stuff down at Charlton, I’ve played on it, it’s superb. I’m looking forward to it.”

Looking forward to the match against a Sittingbourne side that defeated Blue Square South title favourites Dover Athletic 1-0 at the weekend, O’Boyle admitted he is not too concerned about his Ryman League Division One South opponents.

“I’m not really looking at other teams,” he said. “We know Sittingbourne are in a higher league than us, it will be a good test for our boys.

“It would be nice to win the game, but we’re looking at can we improve more on Saturday’s games. We’re getting closer to the season and we’ve got a way we want to play and we want to keep improving.

“These games are all about getting your fitness in time for Sevenoaks on 8th August.”

Sevenoaks Town are the visitors to the Erith Sports Stadium on the first day of the new Bulmers Cider Kent League season, and O’Boyle insist their opponents won’t get much change out of his back four.

Starting with goalkeeper Jack Bradshaw, he said, “I rate Jack Bradshaw, he’s signed permanently from Cray. I rate him so highly.

He continued: “My back four, I think I’ve got the best back four in the league, I honestly believe that!

“Lee Coburn plays centre half with Dean Kearley, they were Thamesmead Town’s pairing when they won the (Kent League) double. Dean Kearely is a quality defender.

“Lee Craig, at left-back, and Arran Hayrettin at right-back, but then you have people like Alan Hanlon and Tony Gallagher, who broke his cheek bone playing in the Vase. He was out for so long and couldn’t get his fitness back. He’s done a full pre-season and we hope his fitness will return.”

But O’Boyle says Ted Hart has been ruled out for up to three months, having broken his foot against Lingfield yesterday.

“This is a major blow for us,” rued O’Boyle. “Last season Ted was unbelievable for us. He could be out for 8-10 weeks, which is a bit guttering really.”

But O’Boyle admits that he needs to do some scouting work on Simon Jones’ team ahead of the big kick-off.

“I don’t really know too much (about them)” he said. “There’s not been too much mentioned about Sevenoaks in the summer. I don’t know who they’ve signed or anything like that, there’s not too much on their website.

“I do try to keep up to tabs with teams in the league. I’ve not really heard too much about Sevenoaks, because I don’t know who they’ve got at their club.”

With only 16 teams in the Kent League this season, O'Boyle says he's concerned, adding: "When I first started playing in the league we used to get 40 games per season. It’s slowly, slowly dying I think!”

Visit Erith Town’s website: www.erithtown.com

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Erith Town v Sittingbourne

THIS MATCH IS BEING PLAYED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Pre-Season Friendly

Wednesday 22nd July 2009

Kick Off 8:00pm