I'm surprised no-one's come in for Andy Pugh, says baffled Welling boss Jamie Day

Thursday 20th October 2011
WELLING UNITED player-manager Jamie Day says Andy Pugh should be the next Kent export into the professional game, writes Stephen McCartney.


Dartford have this morning confirmed that striker Charlie Sheringham, 23, has signed for Npower League One side AFC Bournemouth, after accepting a bid last weekend.

Sheringham, who scored 19 goals in 29 league appearances for Tony Burman’s side, follows winger Dave Martin and striker Cody McDonald into the professional ranks since the Darts moved to Princes Park.

“We will be very sad to see Charlie go as he was a vital part of our push for promotion,” said Dartford co-chairman Bill Archer in a club statement, published on www.dartfordfconline.com  

“On the other hand we are a progressive club and would not stand in the way of a player obtaining his potential.”

Bournemouth manager Lee Bradbury told his club’s website www.afcb.co.uk:

“This is a good signing for us.  He is a good player with good movement and he’s scored a lot of goals and he ticks all the boxes for what we are looking for.

“He is stepping up in to training with the quality of players that we have and with it being full-time that can only be benefit to him and I’m looking to get him involved in the squad on Saturday.”

Bradbury added: “He knows the professional game well and this isn’t a gamble.  It’s just an opportunity for him to get back in to it.  He is technically good and is an intelligent footballer and it’s something he is going to grab with both hands.”

Meanwhile, Welling player-manager Day, 32, who began his playing career with Arsenal, feels Pugh, 22, who has scored eleven goals already this season should be the next player to progress, having failed to make the grade whilst at Gillingham a few years’ ago.

“I think for me, not disappointed, but I’m surprised no-one’s come in for Pughie.  If Sheringham has moved to Bournemouth, I’m sure that no-one’s looked at Pughie.

“He’s got 11 goals, none of them are penalties.  I think he’s been excellent this year, as well as the other centre forwards.  I’m just surprised that none of them has been talked about or any interest from (League clubs).

“For me I’m pleased that they’re staying, but it just baffles me at times.  I think we’ve got better quality here.”

Welling, who progressed through to the quarter-finals of the Kent Senior Cup with a 2-1 home win over a youthful Gillingham side last Monday, travel to Eastleigh on Saturday, before welcoming basement side Hampton & Richmond Borough to Park View Road on 29 October.

Day said: “We said on Saturday before Dorchester we need to probably pick up seven points from the next three games.  We’ve got three and we move on to Eastleigh and Hampton. 

“We’re probably looking to hopefully get two wins, but it’s not going to be easy going away and it’s never easy playing a team that’s bottom fighting to get back up the league so we’ve got two tough games.

“We’ve got to be confident, we’ve got players who can score goals so if we can defend properly and keep clean-sheets and not concede penalties then hopefully we’ll have a good chance.”

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com  

Eastleigh  v  Welling United
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 22 October 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Silverlake Stadium, Ten Acres, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9HT