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Manager Kevin Watson has described Myles Weston’s swift switch to one of Ebbsfleet United’s National League relegation rivals as ‘not ideal’.
Weston left the Fleet last Thursday for what was described as “personal reasons” but within 24 hours he had signed an 18-month deal with Dagenham & Redbridge.
Watson agreed that the move had left a bitter taste for many Ebbsfleet fans and added: “Westy and I had a discussion, Westy and Steve (Lovell, director of football) had a discussion.
“The outcome of that discussion was that Myles was struggling personally. I’m not going to divulge (more than) that.
“It was worked out that he was going to be let go. Then he has moved to Dagenham. Not ideal, not ideal at all, that’s all I would say on the matter.”
Weston’s departure came as a surprise to many, given how highly Watson thought of a player who has stood out for Ebbsfleet in the first half of this season.
“I love him to bits,” said Watson. “It’s not ideal but Westy had his personal reasons of why he needed to move on. That’s down to him. (It’s not a financial thing) to my knowledge.
“I’m here to manage the team, I had several chats with Westy and he cited personal reasons. They are personal reasons that Westy trusted with me and probably trusted with the club and if someone wants to move on for those reasons and isn’t happy then I told players that I will not stand in their way.
“Westy was one who was our talisman, I loved working with him. He was a great player, the ilk of which we don’t have who will carry you up the pitch with the ball but those reasons will remain between Myles and myself and the club. That’s where we’re at, it is what it is, and we’ll get on with it.
“He was fantastic for us and I’m not surprised he got a club straight away.”
Weston might not be the only departure from Stonebridge Road this month.
With three keepers now on the books after Jordan Holmes returned from international duty with Australia under-23s, Watson admitted that either Holmes or Harry Palmer could be allowed to get regular action elsewhere.
“They are three decent keepers,” said Watson, who signed David Gregory on loan from Boreham Wood at the turn of the year.
“Obviously David Gregory has just come in so I’ll be chatting with Jordan and Harry who are both not going to be happy sitting on the bench. We’ll have to see where we go with that.”