GAME OFF! CONCORD PULL PLUG ON BROWN
CONCORD RANGERS have defended themselves after coming under attack from Phil Brown for cancelling Tuesday’s friendly with his young Southend United side – and swapping them for Gillingham.
Former Hull City manager Brown was not happy that the National League South club pulled the plug on the pre-season game between the clubs at short notice.
Southend were due to bring an U21 team but Brown also wanted to run the rule over a number of triallists.
It is understood the Shrimpers were told of the cancellation by their local newspaper, whose journalist saw the change online.
Eight hours before the game, the Concord website stated that, due to a “change in circumstance”, Gillingham would visit the Aspect Arena instead.
Brown believes it was motivated by the fact the Gills promised a crowdpulling first team would travel and Southend couldn’t.
But Concord hit back saying they were told a “strong” Southend side were coming and, after beating their kids 7-0 last summer, said they would not have agreed to play their U21 team again.
“For them to do this to us is scandalous,” said Roots Hall boss Brown.“They are trying to say we had promised them our first team, but that was never going to be the case.We always had this week lined up for being in Spain.
“Not at any stage had we ever said this was going to be our first team, so to say the coaches of the U21s are upset would be an understatement.”
Gillingham became available after an inspection of Braintree Town’s Cressing Road pitch deemed the surface not fit for football.
Concord chairman Ant Smith said:“It’s very straightforward. Our conversation with Southend assistant manager Graham Coughlan was a promise that they would be bringing “a strong squad”.
“Remember, NonLeague clubs rely on their Football League neighbours to help them draw good pre-season crowds. I got wind last week that Southend’s first team were off to Spain. So, when I had that firmed up, I asked Justin Edinburgh if Gillingham would like to come after they lost the Braintree fixture.
“We beat Southend’s U21 side 7-0 last preseason. They tried to kick the s**t out of us and we said never again.We let it go last year as they did the same thing – promised us established players and we ended up with the youngsters.
“Here is my guess. They didn’t know if Phil Brown was staying or not with the Bolton link.When he decided to stay, they quickly arranged a trip to Spain late in the day and are trying to fob us off.
“The last two years Southend have done their pre-season tour in the first week of July.They aren’t big enough to admit that they have gone back on their word because of the date changes and expect us to get what we’re given.
“We wanted a test and a good crowd. Non-League clubs rely on high profile games in pre-season to keep them going.”