NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: Leading scorer leaves March Town following a change of position
Luke Cable (left) and Craig Gillies celebrate the former's goal for March in their pre-season friendly against Deeping Rangers last Saturday. Picture: IAN CARTER - Credit: Archant
March Town’s leading scorer last season has left the club.
Action from March Town's pre-season friendly against Deeping Rangers. Picture: IAN CARTER - Credit: Archant
Manager Brett Whaley confirmed that Jack Brand departed earlier this week after being left unhappy by a change of formation for the new campaign.
Brand scored 16 times last term when used mainly as a striker, but the Hares now boast other attacking options following the summer signings of Craig Gillies and Rob Conyard.
“I think it is a case of our new formation not suiting Jack,” said Whaley.
“He feels his strengths are either as a striker or a wideman, but I was keen to use him in an attacking central midfield role.
March Town manager Brett Whaley during their pre-season friendly against Deeping Rangers. Picture: IAN CARTER - Credit: Archant
“Jack clearly didn’t want to play in that position so we’ve agreed it is best for him to move on.
“We felt the squad was where we wanted it to be so it is disappointing to lose a player at this stage of pre-season.
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“However, we have a good quality and a good quantity of players so we don’t feel we need to sign a replacement.”
Brand was on the scoresheet along with Gillies when March beat higher-level Peterborough Northern Star 2-1 last Thursday night.
Luke Cable and Callum Madigan attempt to stop a Deeping player during March Town's friendly last Saturday. Picture: IAN CARTER - Credit: Archant
Youngster Luke Cable then hit their goal in a 3-1 loss to another United Counties League Premier Division side, Deeping Rangers, last Saturday.
A 6-0 drubbing from Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division outfit Godmanchester Rovers followed last night (Tuesday) to complete a spell of five games in 10 days.
Whaley added: “The boys have worked very hard, but we started to look very tired on Tuesday night. It was probably one game too many in all honesty.
“But we learned a lot about the players while coming up against some strong sides.
“We’ve had so many changes that we now need to allow the squad to settle and work hard on the training pitch.”
The new Thurlow Nunn League First Division North campaign begins on August 4, but March are without a fixture that day due to their management team being away.
The Hares go into battle for the first time on August 7 when entertaining King’s Lynn Town Reserves.
March were initially due to travel to Lynn 24 hours later, but the Norfolk club have requested the game be switched.
The remainder of the club’s fixtures are still to be released.
March face Peterborough & District League side ICA Sports this Saturday in their next friendly with a venue still to be agreed.
Brand’s father, Roy, has also stepped down from the March coaching staff.
