Ultimatum: Eleven of Graham Nicholas’ Garforth team have had a dilemma
Garforth Town head coach Graham Nicholas admits that a large percentage of his squad may not be able to feature in midweek Toolstation NCEL Premier Division matches, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Nicholas has 11 players who study at Leeds Met University and play the University football team on the books and they were recently given an ultimatum regarding Garforth’s midweek games by their University coach.
Nicholas is yet to name the same starting line-up for consecutive games and in the recent match at Basford, the Garforth boss had to field a scratched side due to the Leeds Met players situation.
Nicholas said: “John Hall (Leeds Met Football coach) has said to them that if they play on a Tuesday for Garforth then they can’t play for him on a Wednesday. They have been put in the middle and it is unfair.
“It is one of them, they shouldn’t have to make a choice. But, they have been there longer so maybe its loyalty to them and stability for us this year and then next year they’ll be loyal to us.
“Some of them want to be fair and play for them and some want to play for me. It is frustrating because they have paid a lot of money to play for Leeds Met and with that they get their sports pass for the gym.
“I wouldn’t say I’m happy, but it my first season and sometimes you have to show a bit of understanding and look at the long term and bigger term.
“If I show that understanding and make the decision for them ‘yeah go and play for Leeds Met because long term I know you’re going to be loyal to me and be with us when we crack on’.
“It is very frustrating because you can see what they did against Retford. We’ve only had our strongest team out once this year and that was against Bridlington as that was a time when everyone was available.”
Star player Nick Black is a Leeds Met student
Garforth are 12th in the Premier Division following the 2-2 draw with Retford United, eight points off fifth place – the position that Nicholas hopes to reach.
The Garforth boss has big ambitions for the club and he said: “I’ve always said that when I have my strongest team out we are a match for anyone.
“I think we can crack on and win the league next year, if we keep the lads together. I would say by March time I need to find the squad that will be looking to start and finish the season next year (2014-15).
“It is disappointing where we are in the table because we want to be top five by Christmas and I don’t think we’re going to be there. We need to remain positive and optimistic while trying to get up the table as quick as we can.
“In the first two or three weeks of the season having looked at the players and seen what they can do along with performance against Bridlington, which I thought was superb, I was thinking we were a match for anyone.
“But, it is about whether we can keep the players. We have to be a bit patient with them. They’re in the last year at University some of them.”