Hednesford have booted out deposed captain Dave Macpherson after the midfielder said he couldn’t play for boss Phil Starbuck, writes Steve Marshall.
The former Leek man fell foul of Starbuck by breaking a drinking curfew after the recent defeat at North Ferriby United.
Macpherson asked for two weeks to think things over, and Starbuck has now reached a decision after the player decided he couldn’t play for him.
“He’s gone. He said he needed to consider his options and I told him he had got two weeks,” said Starbuck.
“There was a way back for him even though he defied me and did stuff he shouldn’t have done.
“He told Terry Brumpton (managing director) he didn’t want to leave but he didn’t know whether he wanted to play for me and that was the final nail in the coffin.”
The Keys Park chief, meanwhile, believes several of his 10 casualties will soon reach breaking point as their bodies can’t recover from knocks between games.
Sam Hall (broken wrist), Paul Robinson (ankle), Alan Nagington (knee and ankle), Chris Adam (hamstring), Danny Blair (illness), Tom Ward and Tom Marshall (both calf), Steve Palmer (broken foot), Ross Dyer (medial knee ligaments) and Ross Adams (knee and foot) were battling to be fit for today.
“The body comes to a stage where it can’t do it any more and I’ve got four or five lads at that point,” said the boss.
“They will have to say ‘no’ - that’s why Paul Robinson shouldn’t have played against Buxton this week, and why Tom Marshall shouldn’t play - people at the hospital have said he has to rest.
“Next week it might be a case of telling lads they can’t play. I’m going to have to do it a bit at a time, not all at once. I’m really proud of the lads because they’re putting themselves through physical pain to play.
“People don’t see what they go through - they shouldn’t be playing because they haven’t had time to recover, but they want to play.”
In addition to Macpherson’s exit, Sam Wood has had his registration cancelled because he was struggling travelling and newboy Ashley Woolliscroft, who only signed two weeks ago from Kidsgrove, is the subject of a seven-day approach from Stalybridge.
Beleaguered Hednesford had two new signings available today - and two more after the weekend.
Starbuck has swooped for Harrogate’s Lee Whittington, Bromsgrove midfielder Wayne Dyer and former Conference midfielder Neil Brisco for the tie.
Much-travelled utility man Jason Blunt was ineligible for today after playing for Goole, while the Pitmen have also served seven days for Ilkeston striker Neil Ross, which expires after the weekend.
“Wayne can get around the pitch really well and will add experience to the midfield which we’ve lacked,” said Starbuck.
“Neil Ross is a big, strong lad who will cause problems in the air and, on his day, score goals and set people up. He’s just the player we’re looking for.
“Jason can play central defence, right-back or midfield and will bring experience having managed Sutton-in-Ashfield Town last season.
“Neil has played in the Conference. Although he hasn’t played this season because he’s working, he’s naturally very fit. It might be we have to call on these people.”
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