Hastings approach Sidley skipper Spice

Hastings United have issued a seven-day approach for the uncompromising defender and will be entitled to speak to Spice from this weekend.

Sidley manager John Lambert said: “We’ve had a chat. He loves it at Sidley, but he’s told me if they do speak to him, he just wants to listen to what they’ve got to say.”

Spice joined Sidley from Ryman League Premier Division club Hastings on a dual-registration basis in autumn 2009 and helped the Blues clinch promotion to Division One of the Sussex County League last season.

He was one of the first to commit himself to Hastings amid a mass exodus of players around the time of Lambert’s appointment as manager in May 2008 and was once a player of the year at The Pilot Field.

“He’s full of passion and he’s what we’re about,” continued Lambert. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s one of my mainstays. He knows he’s wanted and I think that’s something he never felt at Hastings when he left.”

The full article will appear in tomorrow’s Bexhill Observer.