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Rogers angry as Brice joins Terras after agreeing move

Monday, June 29, 2009, 15:02

MANAGER Martyn Rogers has vented his anger at Scott Brice after the defender broke his promise to sign for Tiverton Town and joined Weymouth.

Rogers announced Brice's signing earlier this month, revealing that the 22-year-old had bought himself out of his contract at Yate Town in order to join the Yellows.

But it now transpires that the defender only signed a piece of headed notepaper with Tivvy, rather than official forms.

That administrative error paved the way for Conference South outfit Weymouth to make their move and Brice promptly signed for the Terras, leaving an embarrassed Rogers fuming.

The long-serving Ladysmead chief said: "I am a little bit peeved to be fairly frank. If I say something to somebody, I stick by it.

"He's made me look silly and I have told him that. I said to him 'you have made me look a Charlie because I have said I have signed you'.

"I had already signed him but it wasn't on a proper form, it was on headed notepaper which really and truthfully constitutes a contract. He was off on holiday the next day (when Rogers met him) and I didn't have all the necessary forms at the time to do it properly.

"Whatever bit of paper it is, if two parties sign it then that constitutes a contract in my view. All I can say is I'm disappointed in him."

Brice has signed a one-year deal with the Terras to become manager Matty Hale's eighth close season signing.

And the Wessex Stadium boss said he was delighted to have gazumped Tivvy in the race for the defender's signature.

Hale said: "Scott's a big, strong, and tall lad who's good in air. He's a soldier, he'll put his head where it hurts and he'll fight for the cause, which is the type of player we want.

"I think the fans will like him as well as he's a bit of a warrior. He's still only 22 so he's at a good age and there's lots of time for him to get even better."

However, Rogers says he is still considering speaking to Weymouth about both the club's and player's part in the U-turn.

But the manager admitted he was unsure of Tiverton's legal position because he has never come across a situation similar to this before.

Rogers said: "I might write to Weymouth and fax a copy of the notepaper to them, but at the end of the day I don't know how I stand. This has never happened to me in all the years I have been a manager.

"It was in the press we had signed him so they (Weymouth) knew he had signed for us, albeit not the proper contract. When he got back off holiday they must have contacted him. Obviously it's a technicality.

"But I will sit down with the directors and whether we take it any further I don't know."







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