Jarrow Roofing boss considers future after striker quits for Newcastle Benfield
ON HIS WAY ... Aris Guerin-Lokonga.
JARROW Roofing chief Richie McLoughlin has admitted he will consider his future at the end of the season after becoming tired of non-league players.
McLoughlin was speaking after star striker Aris Guerin-Lokonga walked out on the club to sign for Newcastle Benfield.
It was a bitter blow for McLoughlin, who has helped to get the forward trials with a number of professional clubs, and even paid some of his travelling expenses.
Guerin-Lokonga had a three-week spell at Sunderland, while also spending a fortnight at Plymouth Argyle, and having a trial at Bristol Rovers.
But with Roofing deep in relegation trouble at the bottom of the Northern League Division One table, the 20-year-old has opted to sign for Benfield.
It is a further blow to McLoughlin, who has become increasingly disillusioned this season, and led to him questioning whether he wants to remain in non-league football.
He said: “Aris has gone, and to be honest I don’t really want to talk too much about him as I don’t want to get into trouble.
“It was disappointing the way it happened, and I feel there was a lack of respect.
“There’s 12 games left in the season, and it would have been nice for him to help us out until the end of the season, and then gone.
“But with the seven-day ruling now in place, players can just walk out of the door.
“Now I’m asking, do I really need to be in it? Do I really need the aggro?
“Times have changed, and the way I used to deal with things has changed.
“I’ve been in the game too long so I’m going to look at it in the summer.”
For now, McLoughlin is determined to push on to the end of the season and keep fighting to pull his side away from the relegation zone.
He was buoyed by their 1-0 midweek loss against title-chasers Dunston UTS, adding: “We murdered them, and it was very harsh – they scored in injury time.
“I’ve brought in Danny Carson at the back, and he helped us straight away with a bit of pace.
“He was sweeping behind Michael Hedley who was outstanding. We played really well, and we have to keep that going at home to Stokesley tomorrow.”
SOUTH SHIELDS could actually do their neighbours a favour by beating fourth-bottom Billingham Town tomorrow.
Boss Jon King has a full squad to choose from for the encounter, and is looking forward to seeing some competitive action after the recent postponements.
Shields got a much-needed run-out last night with a friendly against Blyth Spartans, with King saying: “It was good for fitness.”.
In Division Two, HEBBURN TOWN hope to get their promotion bid back on track when they host Birtley Town in Division Two.
Paul Bennett’s side lost ground on their rivals in midweek when they lost 2-0 against North Shields, who are now four points ahead of them in third.
Twitter: @rossgregory9
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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