Horsham want players that want to be here, says boss Di Paola

Summer signing Charlie Pitcher has opted to leave the club for division-lower Shoreham for who he played for on Bank Holiday Monday.

Captain Joe Shelley has played for Southern Combination League side Pagham twice over the weekend after dual-signing earlier in the season and Di Paola is presuming he has left the Hornets, but has not heard for certain from the midfielder.

While the manager has admitted he was disappointed with both potential losses, he has made it perfectly clear that in general players that are not fully committed are not welcome at the club.

The manager said: “It’s a great club, why wouldn’t you want to be here and be a part of it? But it’s up to the players.

“Charlie Pitcher has gone and I think Joe has gone. He hasn’t actually told me he has gone properly, but obviously he has played for Pagham all weekend.

“They have been after him for weeks and weeks, offering more and more money that we can’t compete with.

“I am disappointed, but we don’t want anyone here that isn’t up for being here or anyone that has their head turned or is thinking about another club.

“They put that on the pitch. We want people that will dig in for each other and be a team and that is what we had in the past. We never had players last year looking around.

“If people don’t want to fight for a place then we don’t need them. I’d rather have 12 or 13 players that want to be here.”

Di Paola, however, did pay tribute to Shelley and added: “Joe is at a bit of a crossroads and has had his head turned a little bit.

“And the thing about wanting to fight for a place does not really relate to him as he would walk into any team.

“If he goes, he goes with our best wishes. If we could offer him the same money as them he wouldn’t leave and he stuck with us last year.”

A Darren Boswell brace and Terry Dodd goal helped Horsham notch their first win of the season this afternoon.

They comfortable overcame a ten-man Lewes side 3-0 to build on their first Ryman League South Division point on Saturday.

On Boswell’s man of the match display, Di Paola said: “Why he hasn’t played higher earlier I will never know. He has been our most consistent player in the first five games for me.

“Hopefully, this is the season he can kick on because he is some talent. He can go either side, can pass, has a great shot and delivery, he is quick and can defend.

“He has the bit between his teeth, but it was a team performance today. The back four were excellent, the goalkeeper was solid and midfield were great. Liam (MacDevitt) was good and brings us something a bit different.

“I am pleased with the result. It’s only one win, but I am very pleased with it.”

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