People speak a lot about players’ showing no loyalty – but what loyalty has been shown to us? There’s been a lack of respect shown towards me and other players, claims Tunde Aderonmu

DISGRUNTLED striker Tunde Aderonmu claims he has been shown a lack of respect following his shock departure from Erith & Belvedere.

The 35-year-old had scored 22 goals to help the Park View Road club reach the summit of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table but has been made surplice to requirements by manager Matt Longhurst, among many other of his team-mates.

The club started the campaign with Tony Beckingham in charge and the club failed to issue a statement following his departure in December, following a disagreement within the boardroom.

The club then turned to his assistant manager Andy Constable and appointed him interim manager but the legendary striker, 44, lasted 14 games.

Matt Longhurst recently departed Burgess Hill Town after only five games in charge citing work commitments – was appointed the club’s third manager of the season – and their lead at the top has been cut from over 20 points to just seven going into tonight’s games.

Erith & Belvedere had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw at home to Stansfeld last night, relying on centre-half Rob Strachan heading in a last-gasp equaliser, despite the side missing several first-half chances.

The club has picked up four points from Longhurst’s three games back in charge at the club.

“I would like to clear something up,” Aderonmu said in a statement.

“I signed pre-season at Erith & Belvedere with the aim to win the league.  We were sitting comfortably at the top of the league, then we had a blip.

“I’ve scored 22 goals and was the leading goalscorer, whilst at times being in and out of the team but I’ve always shown by professionalism regardless of the situation.”

Other players to be released by Longhurst include 21-goal Nathan Palmer and his brother Ryan.

“Matt Longhurst gets appointed with eight games to go and tells me I’m not in his plans, then releases 12 others, who have worked tirelessly to get the club to the top.

“I won the league (Combined Counties League Premier Division South) with Beckenham (last season), so I know what it takes to win the league.

“People speak a lot about players’ showing no loyalty – but what loyalty has been shown to us?  There’s been a lack of respect shown towards me and other players.

“Regardless, I would like to thank the fans and all of the previous management for their support and I hope to finish off my season at a fantastic club like Beckenham Town.  I’m back home now.”

Longhurst was asked about the recent departures from Park View Road during the post-match press conference last night.

He said: “People were on holiday when I came to the football club and not at training and I think that the way that I’ve always worked has been very professional.

“We need to get detail into the players, we need people at training. We need people able to run.

“The players that we’ve brought in have come from a higher level of football. I won’t go into too much detail about the players that have left the club because there’s different reasons which remains between me and those players. They know the reasons, they’ve been spoken to.”

Two players have even departed their promotion race in the Isthmian League South East Division with centre-half Jahmal Howlett-Mundle and attacking midfielder Billy Bennett departing Ramsgate and Chatham Town respectively to play in the ninth tier again.

The pair won the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division title and three cups under Ernie Batten at Sheppey United last season.

Steve O’Boyle’s Phoenix Sports, meanwhile, can close the gap to four points should they win at bottom-four side Holmesdale tonight.

Erith & Belvedere have collected 72 points from their 32 (of 38 games), and Phoenix Sports travel to Bromley with 65 points on the board from their 31 outings.

Deal Town are in third on 62 points from 32 games, while Erith Town – who host Punjab United tonight – are in fourth-place on 62 points from 31 games.

The league champions will seal promotion into the Isthmian League South East Division, while the runners-up will play a one-off winners-takes-all away play-off against a struggling Step Four side to be decided by The Football Association and played on 29 April.