Non-league: Alliance talk making Darren's job more difficult (From Bournemouth Echo)

Non-league: Alliance talk making Darren's job more difficult

7:00am Monday 4th March 2013 in Sport By Ian Wadley

NEW Milton Town player-boss Darren Curtis admits that public talk of Linnets’ potential alliance with Bashley is making his job more difficult.

Curtis is aiming to save Milton from Wessex Premier relegation amid ongoing discussions over the two clubs joining forces.

Should the proposals get the green light, Linnets would almost certainly be forced to resign from the Wessex League, with a newly-named Bashley New Milton competing in the Southern League Premier Division.

Former Wimborne centre-half Curtis, in his first managerial role, told the Daily Echo: “I just want what is best for New Milton and if the chairman thinks that is best, it is his choice. I just want to keep my head on the job.

“I don’t want it to affect the players and I am sure that won’t happen, but it makes my job a lot harder.

“In the back of their minds if they think the clubs will merge, it could make games a bit pointless.

“My job is to keep the players’ minds on the game. All I want to do is be professional.

“I made it clear (to the players) that we are here to do our best for New Milton and that the last thing we would want on our CVs is to be relegated.

“I have dangled the carrot to them to keep us up because you don’t know what could happen in the future.”

Curtis’s words of wisdom helped Milton claim a potentially vital 3-1 win over Romsey on Saturday (see page 33).

Meanwhile, Bashley confirmed they had responded to an FA request for more information over the proposed name change to Bashley New Milton, which is key to the club’s bid to move to Fawcett’s Field.