By Adam May
FARNBOROUGH manager Spencer Day insists he has no issues with Arron Hopkinson following the winger's decision to leave the club just ten days after signing.
Hopkinson, 22, joined from Ryman Premier side Bognor Regis but an alteration to his college course meant that he could no longer commit to training, and Day claims that it's not uncommon.
“It has totally been blown out of proportion and I think if you'd speak to any manager in the Conference South I'd be surprised if one didn't say it happened all the time in pre-season,” said Day.
“The players turned out for one session and he was injured, saying he couldn't do the running. He then came to us to say that his college course has changed and he wouldn't be able to get to training on time.”
Day – who has been in charge of Boro since November 2011 after taking over from Garry Haylock – told The NLP that he would have been concerned if this occurred during the season.
He added: “If a player had been with me for six weeks or six months, then we may have had a consideration but the reality to it is he's come to us and done 20 minutes of work!
“If circumstances have changed then we won't stand in his way. It's total nonsense.
“It happens all the time [in pre-season]. The amount of players who say they will turn up and don't and who will say they'll sign for you and then sign for someone else – it is the norm.
“We don't have a problem. Ultimately, we need players who want to play for Farnborough. If he doesn't want to play for us for whatever reason and, if he says he can't get there due to his college commitments, then it's not a problem.
“I'm not naïve enough to think it's not because someone has offered more money, it happens. We wish him well in the future.”
