Reds stunned by double player setback (From Redditch Advertiser)

Reds stunned by double player setback

11:21am Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sport

REDDITCH United boss Simon Redhead says it’s all hands to the pump after he received a double blow on the player front.

The Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division relegation-battlers suffered a setback when Stafford Rangers midfielder Lee Downes agreed to join the Reds last Thursday, only to change his mind on Monday and move to Rushall Olympic.

To make matters worse, attack-minded defender Josh Quaynor stunned the club by signing for a club in Australia.

With Redditch also hit by a slew of injuries to Mark Hands, Gary Moran, Alex Hickman and Asa Charlton, they are struggling for bodies ahead of a testing set of fixtures.

But Redhead was defiant ahead of another crucial period for his basement battlers.

He said: “Lee agreed to play for us and he would have been in the team against Arlesey on Saturday, but on Monday he let me know Rushall had made him a better offer.

“It’s frustrating because we were looking to bring in a couple of players and Lee was one of them.

“In our financial situation we can’t bring in three or four players and with the injuries we’re down to the bare bones.

“As for Josh, he’s signing for a club in Australia and that’s come as quite a shock and something we could have done without.

“We’re still very much in the relegation fight and we have 10 cup finals left. If Lee doesn’t want to be here then we don’t want him.”

United, whose home game against Arlesey Town was called off because of a waterlogged pitch at the weekend, suffered a 2-0 loss to Gosport Borough at home on Tuesday night.

That means the Reds are still on the edge of the relegation zone.

They face testing away trips to Barwell on Saturday (3pm ko) and Arlesey on Tuesday (7.45pm ko).

On-loan Forest Green winger George Washbourne was set to be recalled by the Conference Premier club for one match last night, with the Reds drafting in Stratford’s in-form Anthony Robinson.