Spalding United Pat Rayment has moved to clarify the futures of first team regulars Mitch Griffiths and Jamie Stevens after reports suggested that they had signed dual registration forms with Holbeach United and Wisbech Town respectively.
Dual registration means that a non-contract player can play for either team he’s registered with at any time, but stipulates that they have to be in different leagues. With the Spalding based in Evo-Stik League First Division South, United Counties League (UCL) clubs are allowed to take advantage of the rule.
Rayment has confirmed that he has allowed South Holland rivals Holbeach to have the UCL registration of Griffiths, just like Deeping Rangers have Ryan Oliver’s registration and Boston Town have that of Jordan Nuttell.
But Rayment admits he’s in the dark regarding Stevens potentially signing for Wisbech, who already have the UCL signatures of Spalding duo Lewis Webb and Luke Thurlbourne.
As far as the Spalding supremo is concerned, Holbeach already hold the UCL registration for the talented centre back, so any switch of Step Five allegiance would be nothing to do with him.
Either way, Rayment is adamant that none of his players will play for any other side unless he signs off on it first – and feels the agreements are mutually beneficial for all involved.
He said: “Let me make it very clear – Mitch and Jamie have not left Spalding United.
“What we’ve done is safeguard against those times when our games get postponed and UCL matches don’t. If we’re without a match and one of our players can get some game time, it’s a bonus for us.
“But if we’ve got a game and need the players, they’ll be with us. It’s a no-brainer.
“We had this a few months ago when there was a bit of a fuss about us letting Lewis and Luke go to Wisbech for a game. At that time, it was better for the players to get 90 minutes for another team.
“Graham Drury rang and asked me if they could register Mitch, to which I said yes. But if we’ve got a game tomorrow, he’ll be playing for us – not in their FA Vase game.
“As for Jamie, I’m not sure if Wisbech have taken his UCL registration from Holbeach or not. But the same applies, he’s our player first and foremost and will play for us whenever we have a game.”
Spalding United host Tividale in the Evo-Stik League First Division South tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm), with both Griffiths and Stevens expected to start.
