by Craig Tucker

Woodstock Sports manager Ben Taylor has accused Sittingbourne of tapping up striker Ashley Baverstock.

Taylor was fuming after Baverstock, pictured, told him by text message he would be joining the Brickies. He gave permission for Bourne joint-boss Jim Ward to speak to the player but claims somebody else at the club had already made contact.

Ward insists Sittingbourne have done nothing wrong and couldn’t turn down the chance to sign a player who has scored 19 goals for Kent Hurlimann League Woodstock this season.

He said: “It’s just a mix-up between the two clubs, that’s all. We haven’t done anything wrong and the boy hasn’t done anything wrong. There’s no falling-out and we’re going to give them a friendly in the summer.”

Taylor was disappointed with the way the move happened but the lack of a phone call from Baverstock really annoyed him. He said: “Jim Ward asked me for his number but I know someone had already spoken to Ashley.

“If a player wants to leave then he goes with our blessing but he gave me his word he was going to see out the season with us after he turned down VCD last October.

“It winds me up that he didn’t have the decency to phone me. We speak twice a week, every week, so why text me to say he’s leaving?

“I took him back before after he went to Herne Bay. I’ve always maintained it would be two strikes and out but if we’re struggling and he ever wanted to come back, it would take a brave man to say no.”