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Faversham boss Ray Turner has spoken about loyalty in football after losing another youngster to Ryman League, Division 1 South rivals Hythe.
Kieron Campbell this week followed Liam King and Dean Grant before Christmas by swapping the Lilywhites for the promotion-chasing Reachfields club.
While King has since returned to the Shepherd Neame Stadium after finding first-team chances hard to come by under Clive Cook, Campbell has decided to switch to Town’s fellow play-off semi-finalists of last season.
Turner said: “It’s football. I have been in the game a long time now and experienced these things before.”
However, he added: “Kieron came here from Whitstable and at the time he was raw but with bundles of talent.
“We spent a long time developing him and showing faith in him. I gave him lots of minutes on the pitch and persevered with him and gave him game time when other teams might not have done.
“I showed faith and it’s disappointing when this happens when you put so much effort into developing a player but it happens all over the country.”
“Loyalty is disappearing from the game at all levels. I can honestly say there is no player that has left Faversham that has not been back on the phone to me at some point after.
“My fear is that exactly the same will happen to Kieron as happened to Liam, who found it wasn’t like he thought it would be."
He added: “There is some loyalty. Matt Bourne should play his 300th game for the club against Hastings on Tuesday and we’ll make him a presentation to recognise that.
“You’re looking at complete opposites. He’s been here since my first game and has been with me through thick and thin."
Meanwhile Faversham have confirmed the signing of striker Carl Rook from Folkestone Invicta.
He goes straight into the squad for the trip to Three Bridges on Saturday.