BELS are hoping to get their season back on track against St Martin’s today after holding a players’ meeting on Thursday night.
The team that many had tipped to walk away with this year’s Senior County Division One have seen the wheels fall off their campaign in dramatic style in the last week.
Last Friday night at Northfield they lost an epic league match 7-5 to great rivals North.
Then on Wednesday evening, they suffered a shock defeat on penalties at the hands of minnows Sylvans in the first round of the Stranger Cup.
Rumours have been flying about that two of their players, Scott Bradford and Paul Ramsden, have put in transfer requests.
It is understood that island midfielder Bradford asked to leave after the North defeat to join his good friend and former Bels striker Marc McGrath at St Martin’s.
However, Garry Cortez (pictgured), of the Guernsey Football Association, said yesterday morning no transfer form had been received from either.
Under-fire Bels coach Ian Champion, who took up the reins at the start of the season, called his players in on Thursday evening for ‘clear-the-air’ talks.
Champion was not available for comment yesterday but his assistant, Leighton Chainey, was.
He dispelled the rumours that Bels were losing players.
‘No one is going and it was a good meeting,’ he said.
‘It was quite constructive. We got feedback from the players.
‘When you look at it we’ve only lost one league game so it’s not like our season is over already.’
Bels are missing Matt Drillot and Neil Le Cheminant for today’s match.
Hard-hitting midfielder Drillot is out with a hip problem while forward Le Cheminant has a calf injury.
Chainey said Bels are eying up a win today at the Track but they know it is going to be tough.
‘They are always hard games against St Martin’s,’ he said.
‘They’ve got good, decent players but hopefully we can turn the corner and put in a better performance than we have been.’
Saints captain Matt Warren is not taking anything for granted considering that Bels have lost two matches on the bounce.
‘It’s always a good game against Bels,’ he said.
‘I’m sure they will all turn up and play as hard as they always have done in the past. It’s going to be a tough game.’
With the largest squad in local football, Warren also said that they have no injury worries.
‘We’ve got a full squad to choose from,’ he said.
‘Everyone is fighting fit and raring to go. We’re fortunate enough to have a really strong squad and everyone is fighting for their place every match.
‘It’s a really healthy position to be in.’
In today’s other matches, Athletics will be looking to put behind them their horrendous 12-0 defeat at the hands of St Martin’s last weekend when they meet Sylvans at the KGV.
Rangers are entertaining North at the College Field and Vale Rec are at Rovers.
All the games have a 2pm kick off.
Article posted on 24th October, 2009 - 2.30pm
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