All shirts are up for grabs, warns
Brice
By Derek Bish
Tuesday 9th February 2010
EVERYONE must improve if they are not to lose their place
in the Weymouth team, Scott Brice has warned his team-mates.
The 23-year-old defender was hauled off at half-time in the
3-1 defeat to Staines Town – manager Jerry Gill’s
second brave half-time change of his three-match tenure.
Although the club captain was a little unhappy with his manager’s
decision he hopes to prove he still has the form in him that
made him a key figure during the Terras’ best run of
form this season when keeping five clean sheets between mid-November
and New Year’s Day.
“I just took it on the chin and wished them all the
best – it wasn’t the time or place to question the
decision,” said Brice of his substitution. “I will
speak to him tonight about his reasoning and about what I
thought of the situation.
“Being captain of the club, if you get taken off it
is for the best interests of the team.
“They went out there in the second half and got a goal
just after half-time and could have pushed on and got a result,
but 2-0 down after 20 minutes makes it an uphill battle.
“We need to sort out a few things at training and the
gaffer chucked a few in and they have done alright so shirts
are up for grabs.”
Four of the club’s key players so far this season –
top scorer Jake Reid, goalkeeper Ryan Harrison and wingers
Matt Groves and Simon Radcliffe – were left on the bench
while midfielder Chris Allen is another who has found his
playing time limited since the arrival of Gill.
Goalkeeper Joe Welch signed on loan from Histon this week
while defender Cameron Mawer returned to the Wessex Stadium
after a spell at Grays Athletic and Dan Smith joined from
Eastbourne Borough.
And Brice admits the influx of new players – Luke Benbow
and Lewis Whitehead were also in the Weymouth squad for the
first time at Eastleigh last week – has shown the squad
that they need to reach the standards Gill expects of them.
“The manager has got to do what he has to do and if
that doesn’t include certain players then it doesn’t,”
said Brice.
“Everyone has to improve again because no-one’s
shirt is guaranteed. You could probably pick the starting
line-up a little while back but no one is sure now.
“He is looking to bring in a couple this week so it
could be a brand new 11.
