Star and Stones managers fail to agree over an ‘ agreement’

Northern Star joint bosses Darren Jarvis and Mike Goode are on a collision course with former club Blackstones again.

The managerial duo left Stones to join United Counties League Premier Division rivals Star back in December.

They have since raided their former club f or three players ( full- back Joe Hopewell, central defender Luke Hunnings and midfielder Danny Barker) but now a fresh approach for ex- Stones skipper Matt Porter has led to them incurring the wrath of their successor in the Lincoln Road hotseat, Dave Stratton.

Stratton believes the Star men have gone back on an agreement that they wouldn’t go after anymore Stones players after signing Hopewell with his blessing.

Porter actually left Stones several weeks ago to play for Deeping Rangers Reserves in the Peterborough League Premier Division, but Stones retain his registration at UCL level therefore he must be transferred from them to Star.

League rules insist on a 28- day gap between making signings from the same club and that length of time has now elapsed since Hopewell moved to Star.

Jarvis said: “We have made no agreement with Dave, or anyone else for that matter, that we wouldn’t sign any registered Blackstones players.

“I did promise Dave I would call him out of courtesy to give him the heads- up were we planning to put in a seven- day approach and I did that in this case with ‘ Ports’.

“In fact as far as I am concern edit was Blackstones who went back on an agreement that we had with Dave who was happy to allow a number of players to join us at Star.”

Jarvis hopes to have defender Porter on board for a home clash against St Ives on Saturday.

Stones boss Stratton has a different take on the Porter situation as he prepares his team for a short trip to Yaxley on Saturday.

It will be something of a home coming for Stratton who spent a decade as a Cuckoos player.

He said:“I was of the understanding that we came to an agreement after Joe Hope well moved that Star would not come in for any more Blackstones players this season.

“I’m disappointed that is not now the case but any player who doesn’t want to be at the club leaves with my blessing.

“I’ll focus on the players who do want to be around and a game on Saturday that I’m really looking forward to.

“I had some good times as Yaxley as a player and it will be nice to return as a manager. It’s a game I feel we have the ability to win.”

Dave Stratton.