Update to the News - 05.08.10
The Kris Bowler / Matlock Town soap opera produced another shock episode on Thursday as it appears he may be rejoining Matlock after all.
The left sided midfielder was released by Alfreton Town in the summer break after three seasons at the Impact Arena since joining the Reds from the Gladiators for a four figure fee.
Bowler played in a couple of pre season friendlies and looked all set to join Matlock last week until a sudden change of events saw Town boss Mark Atkins retract his offer to the player.
But Bowler has been back in touch with Atkins who is now giving the former Rotherham United junior another chance.
"Kris has been in touch with me and says he wants to come back. He says he doesn't want to play for anyone else but Matlock Town. So I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, provising that he proves to me that he's 100% behind me and the football club. But he's got to work hard to get himself into the team as the other lads have been doing very well."
Bowler will be part of the Gladiators squad that visits Belper Town in their next friendly game on Saturday (3 pm ).
Previously reported news
Former Gladiator Kris Bowler has had a change of mind and will not now be returning to Matlock.
The popular midfielder moved to Blue Square North local rivals Alfreton for a four figure sum in the summer of 2007, but Reds boss Nicky Law released him at the end of the last campaign.
Bowler looked all set to come back as Matlock boss Mark Atkins was due to sign him, along with five more players, last week, but a surprise turn of events will mean that Town fans will not now see Bowler donning the blue Matlock strip.
"Kris looked set to be joining us and was due to sign the forms at training last Thursday but certain things happened and it led me into retracting the offer I'd made to him" explained Atkins. "I wished him all the best for his future career and we all now move on."
Atkins also revealed that young winger Darren Cartwright has opted for a move away from Matlock, which the manager says could free up some cash to bring in one or more other players.
"Darren's told me he wants to try elsewhere as he thinks he should be in the first team. I can't give him that guarantee. Darren leaves with our best wishes.What it does do is give me the opportunity to bring someone else in either now if the right player becomes available, or at a later date. All of the lads here have done well and are staking their claim for a first team place. There's still two more pre season games and four training sessions, there's things we can do better and we'll be working on these but overall I'm pleased with what I've seen."
Matlock's latest warm up games saw them draw 1-1 at Goole last weekend before beating Ilkeston Town 3-2 at home on Tuesday.
"It was disappointing to have a player ordered off at Goole in circumstances where the referee said he would come over to the bench and sort out any difficulties" said Atkins, who was upset by Goole's physical approach. He brought his team off the field briefly in the first half to allow emotions and tempers to cool.
"We performed very well for seventy minutes with ten men and created some good chances. Dene Cropper's goal (which put Matlock in front) was well worked and it'll do him a power of good in what was his first match since returning from holiday. We knew the Ilkeston match would be tough as they're a strong side who play good football. Our start wasn't the best but when we got the ball down we created some good opportunities again and scored three great goals. Ben Algar's was a fine individual effort and the two strikes from Ross are what we've become accustomed to. And saying we were without our two main central defenders in Mark Haran and James Lukic, I thought that Adam Yates and Kris Witcombe were both outstanding, they were excellent in there so that's a very big plus point for us. Winning is not the most important thing at this stage, although you always like to win, it's the fitness building and getting used to playing as a unit which is most important when league points and cup progress isn't at stake."
Matlock's final two warm up games are against Evo-Stik First Division South opposition, starting at Belper on Saturday (3 pm) and then against Glapwell at Teversal on Sunday week (3 pm).
Meanwhile off the field, Matlock's shirts will again be sponsored by Matlock Spa while the Causeway Lane ground will now be known as the Reynolds Stadium.
Town Chairman and Commercial Manager Tom Wright was delighted with the two deals.
"This is Matlock Spa's fifth year of sponsorship and we're both grateful and excited that they will once again be supporting us. They tell me that the Cawdor quarry Development is due to start this year and this will be a major development in Matlock. Dave Reynolds is a Vice President of the club whose work on the pitch and with the development of the ground has been invaluable and we're pleased that he has become the stadium sponsor. Visitors to our Causeway lane ground will now be visiting the Reynolds Stadium and we're very grateful to Dave for his financial support of the club."
