Gravesend release eleven players as club endure "difficult times"

Monday 15th May 2006

Fans are fearing the worse after Gravesend & Northfleet today announced FIVE more players have been released by the Nationwide Conference club - taking the tally to ELEVEN close season departures from Stonebridge Road.

Goalkeeper Aaron Kerr, Ashley Fuller, Danny Glozier, Scott Gooding and Fleet Legend Jimmy Jackson were all shown the door today.

They joined Lee Protheroe, Mark Rawle, Justin Skinner, Andy Drury, Jay Saunders and Steve McKimm who left last week.

Acting chairman Jason Botley admitted to www.gnfc.co.uk:  “These are difficult times at the club but we are in a major transitional period, we have invested in the process of going full time and as a club we are committed to it.

“Life has been made more difficult at this time with a reduction in resources but the club does not have a deficit and will never spend money that it does not have”.

Manager Liam Daish explained: “Life has become more difficult than it might have been but it is my job to bring the players into the club that can buy us a bit of time as the new stadium project progresses and we find potential investors.”

Speaking about Jackson’s shock departure from Stonebridge Road, Daish said: “ I am sad to see any player go but it is particularly the case with Jimmy Jackson as he is a ‘Fleet’ man through and through.

“I would have tried everything within my means to keep him had he been able to fit into daytime training but unfortunately he is unable to do this.

“On behalf of everyone connected with the club I would like to express my sincere thanks to ‘Jacko’ for everything that he has done for the club, he is a consummate professional and has been a great ambassador for Kent football over a long period of time - we wish him every success for the future.”