Spalding United supremo Pat Rayment has defended his decision to allow two of his squad to play for Wisbech Town against South Holland rivals Holbeach United on Boxing Day.
Rayment has confirmed that both Lewis Webb and Luke Thurlbourne are now dual registered with the Fenmen as he bids to get the duo some game time in the UCL Premier Division.
Webb hasn’t played for the Tulips since being jailed on December 1, but was released from custody at 9am on Christmas Eve (Wednesday). Wisbech put a seven-day notice of approach for him while he was serving his sentence.
Thurlbourne, meanwhile, needs game time after recovering from a nagging injury that has dogged him in recent months. He was an unused substitute in last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Loughborough Dynamo and is also now dual registered with the Fenmen.
Rayment has similar arrangements with two other UCL Premier Division clubs, with both Jordan Nuttell and Ryan Oliver also signed on with Boston Town and Deeping Rangers respectively.
But the move to allow Webb and Thurlbourne to play against rivals Holbeach has caused a stir in local circles, with the conspiracy theories already spreading like wildfire.
The derby is the biggest festive fixture for the title-chasing Tigers, with plenty riding on the outcome.
Co-Holbeach boss John Chand has already been on social networking site Twitter to say that the Boxing Day derby at Carter’s Park now has a bit more “spice” to it – thanks to Spalding United.
He tweeted (@jcmourninho): “Would like to thank all at @spaldingunited for adding some extra spice to our Boxing Day derby against @wisbechtownfc”
Rayment isn’t having any of it, though. He said: “I don’t really understand what the problem is here.
“I’ve been told that Holbeach aren’t happy with the two lads going to Wisbech and have heard about a childish remark on Twitter.
“At the end of the day, any UCL side could have come to me and asked for the same arrangement.
“I’ve got a healthy relationship with Graham Drury over at Holbeach – you only have to look at the deals that saw Jamie Stevens and Kern Miller swap shirts to know that.
“If they had rung me and asked to sign Lewis and Luke, I’d have said yes. They didn’t, Wisbech did. End of discussion for me.
“I genuinely hope Holbeach go on and win the league this year, there’s no animosity towards them at Spalding United Football Club.
“I’m simply looking to keep my players fit. Both Lewis and Luke aren’t ready to play for us yet, so this helps both us and Wisbech.”
Spalding face an Evo-Stik League First Division South trip to Lincoln United on Boxing Day (3pm), while Holbeach’s home date with Wisbech (also 3pm) now looks to be a real Christmas cracker.
