Senior players hit out at their own club

Patrick Corlett • Published 25 Jun 2010 09:00 2 Comments

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Windsor celebrate winning the league last season.

Football

TWO senior players that have contributed enormously to Windsor & Eton's success of late hit out at the club.

Both men wanted to remain anonymous and wish the Royalists every success.

But despite giving their all during the last two campaigns - which saw them lift the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup and then win the Southern League Division One South & West title - they feel let down.

A meeting took place last Wednesday between some of the squad and one disgruntled player, who asked not to be named, told the Observer: "I'm not at all happy. I am owed two months wages and my bonuses for the whole of the season apart from the first six weeks.

"I feel like I have been lied to. It is not a way to run a football club.

"I still have not made a decision about next season. It is still in the balance.

"When we won the title all I wanted to do was go away and enjoy the summer. I didn't even want to see a football for few months and then I wanted to come back and play at the higher level with Windsor. But I have not been able to do that and it is very frustrating.

"Players take time off work, get in late, leave early, take annual leave, miss out on overtime. We give up 12 hours on a Saturday and all the time during the week. No-one would do their job if they were not being paid, so why should we accept this?

"People think that it is just beer money for us, but we've got mortgages we need to pay and we need the money.

"I don't think people understand that.

"We had a meeting in March. We could have walked away in March. We are not on contracts or anything like that but we decided to stay around and dig in and we delivered the title. They couldn't have asked for any more from us and now they need to pay us.

"It is not the players' fault.

"I feel that the fans, who have been really great this season, have not been told the whole truth. And they deserve to be."

A second player added: "I'm without some wages for March and April and bonuses for virtually the whole season.

"Some contracted players are signing up for next season as no doubt they have been paid otherwise they wouldn't sign. But with non-contracted players it is different.

"We just feel let down. We play football because we love it but we also budget for the money, we are not paid tens of thousands of pounds but some people need it to pay for their rent.

"The time spent away from work and family is a big commitment as well as the travelling time.

"We had a meeting towards the end of the season, we sat down and arranged a plan of when we were going to get paid. No-one wants to get into a slanging match, it is nothing personal but we need to get paid.

"After the meeting we wanted to carry on and win the league. I've played in a lot of teams where, if they weren't paid, players would scarper. We wanted to stay and win the league but it leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

"We've been told they will pay us and I believe they mean it but I find it difficult to believe.

"The players love playing for the club. We've had two great seasons but we feel let down.

"It's not players money grabbing, that couldn't be further from the truth but we need the money."

This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 25 Jun 10

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windsorexile
4 posts
Jun 25, 20:29
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I keep hearing that Supporters need to know the truth, need to know whats going. I may not speak for all Supporters, but to be honest with you "anonymous senior players"...we do not need to know whats going on. That's between you and Mr Chairman, and would have been between you, Mr Chairman and the now ex-Manager. Mr Chairman seems to be carrying the can for everything. "Anonymous Senior Players" you do have rent and mortgages to pay, you do give up enormous amounts of time. Us "not anonymous" Supporters (I'm Matt Stevens) give up overtime, weekends, use days holidays etc etc, and pay for travel and entrance, replica shirts, buy raffle tickets, paint fences, sweep floors and more. I feel sorry if you feel let down - but dont be "anonymous". Who are you? The only thing us Supporters are thinking at the moment is that one or two former Royalists "staff" are trying to discredit Mr Chairman in anyway they can.

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windsorexile
4 posts
Jun 26, 16:26
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Definition of former Royalists "staff" for clarification......kit man, groundsman, barman, car park attendant, ballboy, players, management....i've heard them all!

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