Ben Clarke bombed

[AF 29]

I've just come off the phone to a very disappointed and confused young footballer. Ben Clarke received a phone call this morning from a Mr Keith Piper, he asked Ben to sign a contract, Ben did not want to sign as he had previously signed one at Wealdstone which had not worked out for either the club or Ben.

 

Ben told the chairman he was committed to Margate but was not wanting or willing to sign a contract at this time (possibly because the club could be in a different division/the manager may not have him in his plans). The chairman then thanked Ben for his efforts but told him there was no place for him at Margate. Ben was disappointed and confused and called me. I told him to speak to the manager as I assumed these decisions are made by the manager. Ben called me back still saddened and confused and said that although the manager wanted him in the team this coming Saturday and knew nothing of the conversation he apologized and said the decision has been made and he could do nothing about it.

 

In one hand you have apparently told the boy you want him and in the next hand you say sorry and goodbye, this really doesn't make sense. There are many players who are kept until the end of the season to benefit the club (Steve Sidwell when he was at Reading springs to mind and look where they are now). In my opinion (not fact) this is no way to treat a young lad who is trying to make his way in the game and was 100% committed to the cause.

[Boney Crisp]

A lot can be said about what has happened over the last few seasons, but i wish it was last Thursday again so i could ask Piper 'What has happened to our once great club?' I'm not sure Piper would be able to answer that

[blue balls]

Nothing surprises me where KP is involved if this is true! Looked a good player from what I saw of him.

[BlueGate Alan]

Alex surely by asking a player to go on contract means that player would be safer not other way around? I am very puzzled as to AF 29 post as to why Ben should think not being on contract is better???

 

Plus would you really have asked Keith that, I somehow doubt it?

[Chris1]

To AF29:

 

Sorry he didn't want to sign because, speaking as a supporter, I thought he was an asset to the side.

 

You don't say how long the contract was, or what its terms were, so none of us can judge any rights or wrongs.

 

Please wish him well for the future from this MFC fan, and I am sure a good many others.

Edited March 3, 2010 by Chris1

[BlueGate Alan]

Yes Chris should have added that, a nice young man with a lot of skill. Good luck for the future Ben

[Dutch_Mike]

Providing any of this is, of course, true.....? Would seem odd considering we face the prospect of Robinson being out for a minimum of 2 games (never too sure how long suspensions last now). Who else do we have to play on the left side? Cliff, perhaps?

[Porka]

I'm sure he'll be on his way to Carshalton then. Own goal. Obvious way forward would have been to keep him til the summer, and if we stay up then ask him again to sign a contract. Clearly KP is going to have to make up for this with a couple of big signings now.

 

Good luck to Ben. I look forward to following his progress no doubt as a pro in the not too distant future.

[acdc]

Message for KP.PLEASE get on the phone and get him back,PLEASE swallow your pride and get him back until at least the end of the season.He is potentially our best player and in a relegation battling side we will be weaker without him.

[Boney Crisp]

Alex surely by asking a player to go on contract means that player would be safer not other way around? I am very puzzled as to AF 29 post as to why Ben should think not being on contract is better???

 

Plus would you really have asked Keith that, I somehow doubt it?

 

Yes i thought this, but why should Ben Clarke sign a contract with a club that he doesn't want to be at if we get relegated as he will see that as going in the wrong direction in his career. Also it seemed that Wealdstone meesed him about with his contract, so can't really blame Clarke for being a bit wary.

 

As for your question i'm taking a gues that it's a knock at me for saying things about Piper on here but never at meetings. A number of reasons why that is Alan;

A. He reads the forum, so therefore he is aware of my thoughts whats the point of repeating them

B. He will give me an answer that i can't really trust, so therefore pointless in me asking it

C. I can be quite an argumentative person, so there stands a good chance that the meeting would still be going on now

and D. If i actually criticise him as a chairman at a meeting or in person he will probably say something along the lines of 'Do you have the money to take over at the club?' which annoys me when people say that on here because that is never the case.

[BlueGate Alan]

Fair enough Alex.

[djw]

Post and trends like this has basically sumed up Margate FC.

 

I'm glad Iain's in control then.

 

Again Piper FC NOT Margate FC.

[BlueGate Alan]

How do we know at this moment this is true though Danny? Lets wait for offical confirmation I would say.

[Cookie]

I too have heard he has left but don't the ins & outs of it. Nothing I am being told is official so my sources could be wrong..... but I doubt it. Shame,good lad & a good prospect.

Edited March 3, 2010 by Cookie

[BlueGate Alan]

I have no doubt he has left what I meant is to why he did, maybe we will never know though?

[C.A.A.]

Nothing I am being told is official so my sources could be wrong.....

 

 

And there we have it

[midlands chris]

all the best to ben for the future, the times i saw him he looked one of our better players. althoug i struggle to see the reasons why he has left in this thread as being true, but thats just my opinion

[seasidesteve]

good old KP he knows how to treat people

[Chris1]

good old KP he knows how to treat people

 

According to the first post, KP offered a player a contract, and decided to release him when he didn't want to commit to the club.

 

I'm not KP's spokesman or anything, but I can't really see anything wrong there.

[Guernsey Tom]

here we go again one step forward two steps back