Lewis' controversial move to Margate hangs in the balance

MAIDSTONE UNITED joint-manager Lloyd Hume has been left reeling over the controversial loss of central defender Ben Lewis, writes Stephen McCartney.

Lewis was snapped up by league rivals Margate on transfer deadline day, but Hume, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today, a day AFTER April Fools Day, revealed his club are not happy with the way that the deal went through.

He said: “We’ve de-registered Ben Lewis as a player from our club because he signed forms for Margate on deadline day.

“We don’t know if he’s going to be able to play for Margate because the approach wasn’t as it should be.”

Hume added, “The transfer hasn’t gone through as requested and the Ryman League have to make a decision as to whether he can play or not - he’s no longer with us.

“He signed forms for Margate on Tuesday, but our club hadn’t released him so it’s sort of up in the air a little bit.

“We’ve made provisions to leave that now until the end of the season.”

When asked why Lewis has opted to move to a Margate side that are the third worst team in the Ryman Premier League, Hume replied, “Purely financial!”

“Margate offered him financial terms until the rest of the season that were boarding on ludicrous," Hume added.

“Well, what I’ve been told by Ben, and Ben doesn’t tell me lies, they’ve actually told him he will be playing up front for the next couple of game, they need someone big and strong to play up front, which sounds like madness to me.

“What I don’t want to do is get involved in any bitterness. He’s gone there, he’s gone with my best wishes. My attitude is if a player doesn’t want to play for Maidstone and people are financially motivated, which I don’t blame players for being, they offered terms he couldn’t turn down, he didn’t want to leave but they offered him huge amounts of money for four games.”

Hume, meanwhile, hopes Lewis’ controversial departure doesn’t upset the applecart ahead of Saturday’s crucial must-win clash against Wealdstone at Bourne Park.

The Middlesex outfit arrive in Sittingbourne in fifth place in the table - occupying the final play-off berth - thanks to a late run of impressive form, having picked up fourteen points from their last six games.

With Maidstone United in ninth place - five points behind Wealdstone - Hume knows this game will make-or-break their season.

“We’re five points away, when you look at it we’ve got six games and I generally believe if we win, I think we need to win at least four - if not five - then we’ll get ourselves in the play-off’s. I’ve been saying that for some time," said Hume.

“The reality is , on paper do I think we can do it? Yes! We’ve got two really tough games on paper which are Wealdstone and Dover Athletic (at home on Easter Monday), so if we win Saturday we’ll be two points outside of Wealdstone.

“If other results go our way, with a game in hand, so it’s a massive importance Saturday for us - it’s a big game.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game

Visit Maidstone United’s website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Maidstone United v Wealdstone
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 4^th April 2009
Kick Of 3:00pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB