Shelley goes missing from United

A KEY PLAYER in Worthing United's survival bid in the County League first division would rather play in the West Sussex League.

Joe Shelley played his fourth game for Clymping on Saturday when the Premier Division side beat Lancing United in the Centenary Cup. They are also still in the Vernon-Wentworth Cup as well as in contention for their league title and the Malcolm Simmonds Cup.

United made a breakthrough after Christmas when they realised that playing the tall attacking midfielder at centre-half alongside captain Colin Moss shored up their leaky defence, and with Ty Paul at right-back they convincingly beat Ringmer.

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This was finally after waiting for the chance to pick Shelley again after a seemingly never ending sequence of injuries and suspensions.

However, if a victim of his own talent and adaptability - when he ventured forward from centre-half he made things happen dramatically for United - he has been offered something more agreeable by his old Clifton Sunday manager Dominic Di Paola, the Clymping manager.

Back at United, assistant manager Andy Preddy said: "'Bif' is obviously fed up. He just loves to play all the time ad he's good enough to play in any position in our division. He's quality. He should be playing at a higher level of football than ours.

"But he's been part of the family here for several seasons now and we want him back and we need him back. I want him to know the door is always open."

United have been so stretched lately that ex-Worthing defender Preddy, who will be 45 next month, is having to be named on the bench.

Do you think Bif is being disloyal? Have your say below.