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Former Gillingham striker Roman Campbell heads list of four players to leave Faversham Town

05:00, 14 October 2021

updated: 15:00, 14 October 2021

Striker Roman Campbell heads a list of four Faversham Town players to leave the club.

The Lilywhites recently have brought in six but, inevitably, that has made it harder for boss James Collins to guarantee players regular first-team football.

Roman Campbell has left Faversham Town. Picture: Faversham Town FC
Roman Campbell has left Faversham Town. Picture: Faversham Town FC

Ex-Gillingham man Campbell, who joined in the summer, is among those to head for the exit door. Keeper Henry Newcombe, also formerly of Gillingham, has departed just weeks after joining, along with defender Alfie Speirs and frontman Luis Dos Santos.

Collins said: “They wanted regular football but I cannot give everyone regular football!

“Roman was a difficult one. I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“I’m disappointed it didn’t work out. We didn’t play to his strengths, really.

“It wasn’t anything he did overly wrong.

Faversham boss James Collins will come up against his former assistant Nick Davis, now in charge of VCD, this weekend. Picture: Alan Langley
Faversham boss James Collins will come up against his former assistant Nick Davis, now in charge of VCD, this weekend. Picture: Alan Langley

“I wish him well and I have no doubt he will still be a very good player going forward.”

Another significant departure at Salters Lane is that of popular coach and former striker Carl Rook who had been running the under-23s.

“He has left the club which is a real shame,” said Collins, whose side beat Tilbury 3-2 at home in the FA Trophy last weekend.

“I’ve spoken to him and he has a bit of stuff going on outside of football so that has to take priority.

"He was maybe not enjoying it quite as much as he had enjoyed playing.

“But hopefully, he will be back at some point soon because he has a lot to offer.”

Town’s three new signings who did start against Tilbury - the returning Dean Grant, midfielder Eddie Allsopp and defender Jono Richardson - all made an impact with Grant and Richardson netting alongside striker Emmanuel Oluwasemo.

Collins said: “I think 3-2 flattered them.

“We should have killed the game off at 3-1 but then we conceded a silly goal.

“They put us under pressure, bringing their keeper forward for corners at the end, and we were hanging on a little bit.

“But we scored three goals at home, which is good.”

Faversham visit third-placed VCD this Saturday when Collins will take on former assistant Nick Davis.

“Nick is an old friend of mine,” said Collins.

“We had a bit of time together at Faversham but we go way back.

“But obviously, I will be trying to beat him on Saturday.

“I think they are a good side but they are all tough games in this league. We have to be on it every week.

“We speak to each other three or four times a week. I think they are in a more settled place in their way of playing than we are at the minute.

“It will probably be easier to predict their line-up than ours but I’m looking forward to it.”

VCD lost 4-1 at home to Corinthian on Tuesday night.

Town will host Isthmian Premier Leatherhead in the FA Trophy third qualifying round on Saturday, October 30.

After Nikki Bull quit as Leatherhead boss at the weekend, the visitors will arrive under new management.

Collins said: “They are from the league above and have just appointed their new management team.

“With the Trophy draw, you are always going to get teams from the leagues above at some point.”

Read more: All the latest sports news from Kent

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