Nostell Miners Welfare manager Darren Holmes has admitted his disappointment at the manner of a player departure before the season has even started
Nostell Miners Welfare head into the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division season in a positive mood, but Darren Holmes has revealed some of his frustrations.
Holmes has no gripes with defender Tom Coppin’s decision to join Pontefract Collieries. However, he is disappointed with the exit of an un-named registered player to another Premier Division club.
The player actually signed for Nostell, but then played for his new team in a friendly without telling Holmes and then decided to move clubs before a ball has even kicked competitively.
Holmes told Non League Yorkshire: “I think at a club with a limited budget, it is always tough (to attract players).
“We are very fortunate at Nostell that we have some excellent facilities.
“We have spent £50,000 on our pitch this year so we are going to have a excellent playing surface and that has attraction for players.
“We have some excellent facilities and that has been our main pulling point. We don’t have a big budget so we can’t go out and there offer players lots of money.
“We’re looking at bringing young players through and hopefully we can keep them.
“We have already lost a couple of players before the season starts.
“It is a little bit frustrating that you attract players for pre-season and they are contacted by another club before the season starts and offered a bit of money.
“Unfortunately they have gone and it is frustrating and quite annoying.
“I’m little bit disappointed with the approach (for the un-named player). He was our registered player and he played in a pre-season friendly (for them) and they spoke to him after that game.
“I’m a little bit disappointed that it wasn’t conducted in a better manner than what it was.
“I think the club should have spoke to me first.”
Holmes has to move on and he was delighted with the way his side finished their pre-season schedule in the 3-2 defeat at Brighouse Town.
He even had players missing for the trip to the Premier Division champions and four will return for the opening day game at Maltby Main.
The Semley brothers, Tom and Matt, Tom Brook and key midfielder Simon Poole will be in the reckoning for a place at Maltby.
Looking ahead to Maltby, Holmes added: “We have still two or three players on holiday who are back for Saturday.
“The Brighouse performance has given us a genuine headache which is good.
“Competition for places is strong. We have a stronger squad from last year.
“I still think we are two or three players short of having the squad we would have liked.
“But, with a very limited budget, it is always tough to get those quality players that you need.”
The referee for Nostell’s trip to Maltby is Andrew Dallison.