Nathan Rooney on way out of AFC Telford
AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson has decided not to offer midfielder Nathan Rooney a contract to keep him at the New Bucks Head – and then vowed to find him a full-time club.
The former Wolves reserve team captain and Thomas Telford pupil was told at training last night that his two-year spell with the Bucks is over, after nearly a full pre-season.
But Watson believes the 21-year-old needs football "to be his life again" and has promised to try his best in getting the player fixed up with a professional outfit, even if just on trial.
The Bucks boss doesn't doubt Rooney has ability but prefers a more combative type in the middle, illustrated by summer signings Charlie Barnett, Alan Moogan and Russell Benjamin.
Watson said: "I think Nathan needs a full-time club, you might find that bizarre considering I am letting him go. But he needs to live and breathe football again, it will help him concentrate.
"He needs to revolve his whole life around being a footballer. He's got great technique and ability and, if he puts his whole heart into it, he could end up being a top player.
"I am normally go for a more aggressive type of midfielder, that's the problem. But I am going to help him, I will go out of my way to get him some proper trials somewhere.
"That's purely because of how hard he has worked and I have got enormous respect for him."
AFC Telford round off their pre-season programme against Bangor at the New Bucks Head tomorrow, in a fixture that was arranged before Watson was appointed in May.
The visiting club, who play in the Welsh Premier League, approached Telford to play the fixture and the hosts will be fielding their strongest side.
The manager is also looking for his players to complete a full 90 minutes, with one eye on the Conference North season opener at home to Workington the following Saturday.
He said: "It's a great fixture for them to be coming to Telford and I would like to get through 90 minutes tomorrow and not make a substitution, if that's possible."
Telford strikers Tony Gray and Andy Owens should be fit to play tomorrow, after shaking off groin and hamstring niggles respectively this week. Trialist midfielder Martyn Jackson is away on holiday.
