Longhurst reshuffles his pack for Redhill tie

SLADE GREEN boss Matt Longhurst has reshuffled his pack, ahead of Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Vase second qualifying round home tie with Redhill, writes Stephen McCartney.

Midfielder Rikki McDonnell, goalkeeper Sam Biggs and striker Raphael Akala have all been released by Longhurst before the Vase clash against the Sussex County League leaders.

“These players have been released by the club and I would like to go on record to say thanks for their participation at Slade Green over recent months and wish them all well in the future,” Longhurst told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Longhurst has also lost the services of Lee Craig and Ben Payne, who have both signed for Erith Town and Sittingbourne respectively.

He said: “I did not at any point state that I released the pair, they both left the club to either further their careers or earn money playing the game, something that I have to accept as a manager of a non-paying team as these things happen from time to time.”

Despite not having a budget, the former Dartford coach is confident he’ll be able to bring in some players on loan.

“I am hoping to name a couple of loanees that will come in from a higher level that will join for the foreseeable future to help stabilise us,” revealed Longhurst.

Longhurst has signed Tarik Orezberoglu from Ryman One South side Sittingbourne on a dual-registration deal and has high hopes for the left-back, whose first team appearances at Bourne Park have been limited.

“Tarik has signed on loan for the foreseeable future, on a dual registration,” he said. “He brings energy and charisma in the changing room and he’s confident on the ball as we look to play the ball out from the back.”

“We also have several seven-day notices that we are awaiting on to bring in the right players to add to what we have.

“But we even have Kent County level teams in the local area outpaying us and players moving there instead of playing at a higher level for nothing.

Longhurst admits Redhill go into Saturday’s game with the favourites tag on their shoulders.

“They’re top of their division,” he said. “I know Tommy Sampson well as he was a mentor of mine at Dartford and he made me reserve team manager after I won the double with the under 16s.

“They’ve got some very experienced players (but) we go into the game fairly confident but they’re only at our level of football. If we can get things together we can get something from the game.

“We’ve had them watched and we know they will be strong. I’d imagine they’d be experienced and will do the right things at the right times.

“It will be a difficult game but on our day we’re as good as any team at our level and it’s a case of taking things forward.”

Longhurst has brought in goalkeeper Danny Kemp on loan from Ryman One North neighbours Thamemsead Town.

And he said: “He brings a little bit of experience to the squad and I’m still looking, hopefully, hopefully by tomorrow night to secure a centre forward.”

But without a budget, Longhurst knows bringing in players is difficult.

He said: “I’ve got seven days on a couple of experienced strikers from the Kent League - we’re waiting for them to go through so I can speak to them.

“I’m trying to bring somebody in from a higher league on loan for the next month, while their not getting games in a league above.

“The biggest problem I’ve got, we can’t cover their wages. If someone’s on £100-£200 a week they want us to cover half their wages, but we can’t do that.”

Longhurst also said Tommy Sampson, a friend to so many people here in Kent, will be at The Small Glen on Saturday.

Visit Slade Green’s website:  www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc/

Slade Green v Redhill
FA Carlsberg Vase Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 20^th September 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Small Glen, Moat Lane, Slade Green, Erith, Kent