Striker Russell Dunkley has described his decision to leave King’s Lynn Town Football Club as the hardest one of his life.
In a week where five more of last season’s squad agreed new deals, Dunkley’s departure from The Walks, due to increased work and travelling commitments, was a shock.
Dunkley, who notched 14 goals in 38 appearances last season, said: “It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life and, to be brutally honest, I’m gutted that I’m leaving.
“King’s Lynn are a great club, with great fans and I don’t think I will ever experience anything like I did this season again. It has been a joy to have played for them.
“I’ve got my reasons and Gary (Setchell) fully understands why I am going. If I only lived an hour away from the games I would have stayed.
“I’m happy that I’ve played a big part in helping the club get back to the minimum level of where they should be.
“As much as I respect Gary as a manager, I’ve also gained a good friend in him, and that goes for a lot of the fans too.”
Dunkley – a plasterer by trade – admitted that he had been overwhelmed by the response from fans, who nicknamed him the ‘beast’, since making his decision.
“Every single person has been fantastic with their well wishes and my phone just hasn’t stopped,” said Dunkley, who says that he is undecided where he will play his football next season.
Linnets boss Setchell admitted that he was devastated at losing the 30-year-old frontman, who became a firm favourite with the fans during his time at the club.
Setchell said: “Russell just can’t commit because of the demands of work and travelling.
“We didn’t want to lose him and he didn’t really want to go. He gave it everything he had for us last season.
“He had to be brutally honest and up front about a decision which wasn’t easy for him to make.
“There’s no animosity whatsoever and he is still a massive friend of the club. He has been brilliant and he’s one of the nicest blokes I’ve worked with.”
The quintet of Danny Gay, Sam Mulready, Dan Quigley, Richard Bunting and Jordan Yong committed themselves to Step Three football with Lynn next season – following on from the eight players who agreed deals at the weekend.
Setchell was hoping to speak to both Danny Beaumont and Shane Tolley about their futures last night.
Trek wrote:Dunkley is a nailed on certainty to join up again with Glenn Botterill at Sileby Rangers.
;)
This might be our first proper 'rumour' if such a thing exists. UCL Facebook page just posted this:
AFC Rushden & Diamonds have been strongly linked with striker Jason Turner.
Turner spent a large part of his career at the Dog & Duck with Wellingborough Town, and also boasts Kings Lynn Town, K*ttering Town, and more recently Holbeach United as his former clubs since leaving Wellingborough.
Can't see it myself. That would leave Dunkley, Newman, Taylor, Turner, Ellwood, Morgan, Allen & potentially Reynolds (have I missed anyone) fighting it out for 2 places. With Morgan and Allen capable of playing on either wing, I can't see how Dev would get a game to be honest.
They say we've lost our money we're not famous anymore.....
Trek wrote:Dunkley is a nailed on certainty to join up again with Glenn Botterill at Sileby Rangers.
;)
This might be our first proper 'rumour' if such a thing exists. UCL Facebook page just posted this:
AFC Rushden & Diamonds have been strongly linked with striker Jason Turner.
Turner spent a large part of his career at the Dog & Duck with Wellingborough Town, and also boasts Kings Lynn Town, K*ttering Town, and more recently Holbeach United as his former clubs since leaving Wellingborough.
Can't see it myself. That would leave Dunkley, Newman, Taylor, Turner, Ellwood, Morgan, Allen & potentially Reynolds (have I missed anyone) fighting it out for 2 places. With Morgan and Allen capable of playing on either wing, I can't see how Dev would get a game to be honest.
Only unless Starms intends to use him as a centre midfielder, but I would think this unlikely
IF this is true and happens then I'd guess that Morgan and Ellwood would both be leaving, to leave a strikeforce of Dunkley, Taylor, Newman, Turner, Allen and Reynolds. I'd like to see Allen get regular starts on the wing (unless someone better's found) because he's a big goal-threat. That would leave 2 places from 5, which would be more than enough.
I would be very sorry to see Dev Ellwood and Ben Morgan leave us. They have both served us well. When we had no Saturday team I would often watch Thrapston Town or Whitworths, Dev was a regular scorer at Thrapston, I think many of his goals came whilst he was playing centre midfield for Thrapston in the UCL Premier, he also played centre midfield for Whtworths, he out scored Carvell Jarvis at Thrapston. I am told Dev played for Raunds Town in the UCL Premier where he won the award of managers player of the year. I do not think we ever saw the best of Dev at the Dog and Duck, if he leaves us I hope he will not come back to haunt us at the Dog and Duck, both Ben and Dev have been good squad players for us.
Dev just never got a good run in the team last season and had his injury troubles. A good player, but not really sure where his best position is. Don't think he's an out-and-out striker, and he is not a box-to-box midfielder like Kingy.
UttoDiamond wrote:Dev just never got a good run in the team last season and had his injury troubles. A good player, but not really sure where his best position is. Don't think he's an out-and-out striker, and he is not a box-to-box midfielder like Kingy.
He linked up very well with Taylor at the start of the season wit the former taking most of the plaudits. Got his chance when Alfie got injured scored a couple of important cup goals but then got injured himself. The form of Newman, Taylor and even Allen coming of the bench never gave him much chance after that
If the budget allows why don't we keep dev or morgs and send them out on loan
I think these players can still play a part next season, if we have another cup run, with more league games and more postponements and an injury crisis we could call this players back match fit ready to step in, cause a few times last season we were light on the bench
BartonRaz wrote:
Reality is we'll probably set our sights higher and take some southern league players. People like Parky and Cross can help with recruitment I'm sure.
Funnily enough, Jamal Clarke at Evesham tweeted this:
Jamal Clarke @JamalC4 4 May
@tomcrossy1 Get in the gaffers ear new centre half here if needed can also do a job up top haha #SellingMyself
Tongue in cheek, but still a good positive.
According to Tom Cross on Twitter Jamal Clarke is training with us tomorrow.
They say we've lost our money we're not famous anymore.....
