Frantic Friday after numerous deals
agreed
By Adam Summers
Saturday 28th January 2012
WITH Sam Malsom on the verge of sealing a move to arch-rivals
Dorchester Town, the Terras have vowed to fight tooth and
nail to convince Stephen Reed not to make the same move.
Magpies’ chairman Shaun Hearn told Echosport yesterday
that he has agreed terms with both players, but the Weymouth
board is set to counter the county town outfit’s bid
to sign Reed by offering the midfielder a permanent contract.
Dorchester have also allowed Andrew White to return to Eastleigh
and let Steve Devlin join Poole Town while the Terras have
drafted in Yeovil Town youngster Lewis Clarke on loan and
are close to agreeing a similar deal with AFC Totton for James
Coutts.
Magpies’ boss Alan Knight, whose side are without a
fixture today, said: “As far as I know talks with the
two Weymouth players are still ongoing.
“They are both quality players that will certainly give
us a boost but more importantly they are both keen to join
us and want to be a part of what we are doing here.
“As for Steve Devlin, without wanting to talk out of
turn, he asked to leave.
“He has some personal stuff he needs to address work-wise
and at the end of the day he has to put himself and his family
first.
“I am disappointed to see him go and I know he is disappointed
too but these things happen. “He has been fantastic since
I have been here but it is purely down to work commitments
and nothing else.
“In regards to Andrew White, he has had some injuries
and I could not guarantee him a start so it has been deemed
best for him to return to Eastleigh.”
On the other side of the Ridgeway, Brendon King appears to
have conceded in his bid to keep hold of Malsom but he remains
confident Reed will stay put.
He said: “Having spoken to Sam several times, his one
and only desire is to play at the highest level he can.
“Dorchester have offered him that opportunity and although
we do not want him to leave, we feel we cannot hold him back
either despite the fact he is under contract until the end
of the season.
“He has enjoyed his time here but he wants to push on
and all we can do is wish him all the best. I have also spoken
to Reedy and I am confident he will stay.
“He will definitely be available this afternoon at Oxford
City (3pm) and again at Stourbridge on Tuesday when we are
also hoping to have James Coutts in on loan as well. We have
also signed Lewis Clarke on loan from Yeovil Town.
“He had a loan spell here last season and as long as
all the paperwork goes through in time he will be in the squad
at Oxford too, along with Alex Jeannin, who is fit again and
raring to go.”
Commenting further on Reed, George Rolls added: “We
will fight tooth and nail to keep hold of him.
“Sam wants to play at a higher level so we will not
stand in his way but we are hopeful that Reedy will stay on.
“Everyone knows we have had a love-hate relationship
over the years but he has really buckled down this season
and been fantastic.
“He realised this could be his last chance and we feel
he owes the club to stay on with us, particularly with Brendon
having shown so much faith in him.
“He is on non-contract at the moment but we are confident
we can get him tied down to a deal and that is what we will
be trying to do to help convince him not to leave.”
Meanwhile, this afternoon’s clash against City could
bring the curtain down on Byron Napper’s stay at the
Terras. The Crawley Town midfielder’s current loan deal
ends tonight but there is still a possibility he could return.
Napper said: “I am not sure what is happening yet, it
is just a waiting game.”
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