Flackwell Move For Pritchard

Rebels captain James Pritchard makes the move to Wilks Park for a management position and link up with cousin Matt Flint.

Thursday 8 January 2009·3 min read

Rebels captain James Pritchard has today completed his move to Flackwell Heath onto the management staff at the Hellenic League club. The Rebels midfielder links up with his cousin Matt Flint and has accepted the role of player/assistant manager.

Pritchard took the opportunity to make the move mid season to follow his father's footsteps into management at the Buckinghamshire based club. With strong links already at the club, Pritchard knows the setup at Flackwell, but it was still not an easy decision for the influential midfielder to make. The step into management was a move which Pritchard was going to take at some point and this opportunity presented itself, making a very difficult decision for the Rebels captain to make.

Rebels manager Derek Sweetman was disappointed to be losing one of his key players from the side, but with the links Pritchard has with Flackwell, can understand why the midfielder made the decision.

"I have spoken with James over the past week and we have discussed the move at length. Whilst I am extremely disappointed to lose a player of James's calibre, he makes the move with our blessing and support."

Prtichard himself was thankful to the Slough support for his duration with the Rebels after becoming Sweetman's first signing, joining the club in March 2008 from Uxbridge. Flackwell was one of a small number of clubs the midfielder would have left the Rebels for and it is with a heavy heart that he makes the short move to Wilks Park.

Also leaving the Rebels this week are Adam Durrant and Lee Riddell.

Durrant, who is in the banking industry, is having to commit an increasing amount of time to his professional life and has been unavailable for the Rebels for a number of weeks. It is not expected that Durrant will be signing for another club in the near future due to the current economic climate and the demands from his job. The defender made ten appearances for the club since joining at the end of August 2008 against Abingdon United. His only goal for the club came in his second appearance in the FA Cup replay against the Oxfordshire side.

"Rids" has taken the decision to move on in order to find regular first team football at another club. The midfielder, who had recently enjoyed his third spell with the club, is yet to sign for another club. Riddell made his Rebels debut at Worthing in January 2004 and scored a goal still fondly remembered by Rebels fans at Maidenhead United in the County Cup in his second appearance. Riddell was a versatile player who covered every position in his time with the Rebels.

All players' Southern League registrations have been retained for the future should they be required or return to the club.

Sweetman is now looking to bolster his squad with the departure of three of his first team squad. The replacement of Pritchard is key to his thoughts, but it will be a difficult task to replace the midfielder.

"He was my first signing for the side when I took over and having worked with him before, I knew the quality we were getting. He is my type of player, an intelligent footballer and we are very sorry to see him go, but can understand why he would want to take up this challenge.