Faversham Town manager Ray Turner says Danny Hockton's departure for Margate is a big blow
by Alex
Hoad
Faversham boss Ray Turner has
admitted the departure of forward Danny Hockton is a blow to his
side’s prospects.
The 33-year-old former Millwall,
Dover, Margate and Maidstone striker (pictured) has moved to
Margate to form part of a three-man caretaker management team
installed at Hartsdown Park this week in the wake of boss Chris
Kinnear’s departure to take over from Nicky Forster at Dover.
Financial constraints means Turner
was forced to release Hockton’s former Maidstone strike partner
Adrian Stone earlier this month and Town will be increasingly
reliant on under-18s striker Kieran Oliver as they seek to secure a
play-off place in Ryman League, Division 1 South this season.
Turner said: "The impact is more
that he was playing more of a player-coach role here. After having
to release Stoney, I was going to be looking to play Danny a little
bit more, so this is a set-back.
"He’s got bags of experience and
was great for developing the likes of Kieran and some of the other
youngsters."
He added: "I have a lot of time for
Danny and we’ve parted on good terms. I understand why he’s gone
and wish him well."
No team has played fewer league
games than the Lilywhites this season and Turner added: "It does
mean that we have got a run of 16-or-so games over the next eight
weeks and we’re down to 15 senior players. It’s going to be a real
test."
Weather-permitting the Lilywhites
will visit basement-boys Three Bridges on Saturday, with a home
game against Tooting & Mitcham to follow on Tuesday night.
Do you think Town will miss
Hockton's influence? Have your say below.
24/01/13
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