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Hill turns down Terras
by
Adam Summers & Ky Capel
Former Dorchester Town skipper Kevin Hill has turned down a switch
to Weymouth in favour of a move to fellow Zamaretto Premier Division
outfit Tiverton Town.
Hill’s decision is another huge blow for Terras’ manager
Ian Hutchinson who has also seen a deal to bring ex-player-manager
Matty Hale back to the Bob Lucas Stadium hit the buffers due to
work commitments.
It will also be of no consolation to Hutchinson to know that the
main reason that Tivvy are at the front of the queue for Hill is
merely timing.
The ex-Magpie, who was hoping to tie up his proposed move to Ladysmead
last night, told Echosport yesterday: “I was half tempted
to go to Weymouth. When I played against them for Dorchester in
pre-season I was impressed. They knocked the ball around well and
the only reason we beat them was fitness.
“They have a lot of young lads there and could do with a
bit of experience but unfortunately Tivvy spoke to me first.
“To be honest not everything is done and dusted yet and if
it does not work out I could end up calling Ian Hutchinson back.
“He comes across as a really nice guy but I am a man of my
word and after having told Tivvy I would help them out I cannot
go back on that.”
Hutchinson reckons geographical factors also played a part in the
Devon-based player’s final decision.
He said: “Tivvy have obviously got in there just a bit quicker
than us and the fact they are based 10 minutes from his front door
is probably another reason as well.
“It is totally frustrating at the moment and to be honest
I don’t think I am going to have any hair left soon. But we
will keep going and keep looking.
“Other names have been banded about like Byron Napper but
that is not the type of player we are currently looking for. We
are after a bit of experience and Kevin and Matty would have been
ideal.
“But one has decided to go elsewhere and the other is unable
to commit at the moment. Things may change over the next few weeks
but in the meantime we have to move on.”
Meanwhile, Hill has praised Dorchester’s “brilliant”
fans in the wake of his release from the county town club.
The 34-year-old was axed last week in a bid to lower the wage bill
and secure a move for fellow defender Scott Guyett, a decision that
sparked an angry response from sections of the Magpies’ faithful,
who believed the club were making a mistake letting the ex-Torquay
player go.
Hill added: “The fans were brilliant to me and I can only
thank them for that. I enjoyed talking to them in the bar after
games and they all made me feel very welcome.
“I enjoyed my two years at the club and I wish I had been
able to stay longer. It’s a great club with great facilities
and in a way it’s a sleeping giant. They just need to make
sure the club is stable first and go from there.
“I knew the club was struggling money-wise but me leaving
was all done in a fair way and we came to an agreement.
“I wasn’t one of Ashley Vickers’ signings and
he had to free up some money so it wasn’t a total surprise
as I was one of the big earners.
“It’s one of those things that happens in football.
I could have stayed on and sat on my contract but that wouldn't
have helped either party as I want to be playing football.”
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