STRONG URGES FANS TO KEEP FAITH
RHYL manager Greg Strong has assured fans he is doing everything he can to bring top quality signings to the club.
There is unease among Lilywhites supporters following the departure of goalkeeper Lee Kendall, as well as the fear other high profile players could be on their way.
But Strong is working around the clock to bring in new faces who will ensure Rhyl are still a force in the 2009/10 campaign.
"I'm red-hot on the phone," said the player boss, who took over at Belle Vue just over a week ago.
"I have a lot of contacts in the game and I'm speaking to old friends, trying to call in a few favours and seeing who's available."
While sorry to see Kendall bid farewell to the Lilies, Strong insists it is time to move on.
"I could have held him to his contract (which had another two years to run), but it's not fair to do that if a player wants to leave," he said.
"He'd already made it clear to Allan (Bickerstaff) that he was leaving because the travelling to and from South Wales was getting too much.
"All due respect to Kends, but a couple of the players I'm talking to would improve us and represent a forward step for the club - not a backward one."
Strong was asked whether Peter Moore, a young full-back who impressed in the recent 3-2 win over Witton Albion, would be joining Rhyl.
"He is one in a long line of possibilities," he said.
Strong had planned a friendly against Fleetwood for Thursday, but the Codmen pulled out.
"Their season starts this Saturday, and it's been difficult to get anyone else as they were all tied up with games.
"I don't want to arrange anything for next week as it's too close to the start of the season. I've got too small a squad and don't want to risk any injuries."
With plenty of activity expected on the player front in the next week or so, Rhyl is certainly the club attracting the most focus in Welsh Premier circles.
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Dave Jones - For all the latest news from Rhyl Football Club, including match reports, news, views and features log on to Lilywhites On-Line hosted by Visitor sports editor Dave Jones.
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Know all kinds of rumours flying around re clubs financial situation but not suprised about Kendall thought he would'nt last long not looked happy since his return from a long suspension really believe we can do better than him?
Whilst not doubting Lee's abilities for one minute, let's not forget that we won many games last season when he was serving his suspension. So, although he's an excellent keeper, I'm sure that Greg will find someone else, because we need two keepers in the squad.
I'm not totally surprised he's gone back South - the journey from South to North Wales isn't easy, especially for mid-week games. I'm sure he thought he could manage it, and signed his contract in good faith, but until he'd done it for a full season, it was going to be difficult to take a view (and there were rumours that the travelling was getting too much at the start of last season, if you recall).
It's probably for the best - he'll have less stress, and it frees up some of the budget. Good luck to him at PT (except when he plays us!)
Can't agree with that JDH. In my opinion Kendall's been the best keeper we've had here since Trevor Ball. He's been voted best keeper in the league for 3 seasons. He'll be tough to replace as last season showed when he got himself suspended.
Yes we may have got by, but that was due to the quality of players in front of the keeper.
Sad to see him go.
A legend indeed, just a pity he went to an anti-Rhyl website with his exclusive story rather than mine or Rob's or the official one, then again Lee owes me nothing so that's the way it goes I suppose. Good luck Lee. I reckon there's scope to do a Lee Kendall's top 10 great moments or something like that, it's just finding the time.... It's not easy, he made good saves in nearly every game he played, but last season he often didn't need to make many because the defence was so good. Perhaps some of you could list your top Kendall moments.
Anti Rhyl?.
Just because 2 or 3 people who post on there like nothing better than to criticise doesn't make it an anti-Rhyl site. Am I anti Rhyl?
Kendall posted on there because he perhaps more than any player created a bond with the fans over the last 2 seasons. Those of us who travel all over Wales have got to know him well and it was the most direct way for him to thank those people.
As a fan it was a much more personal statement than 1 issued via the club or via the press. Sorry Dave
What Craig says is right dave, not everyone is anti rhyl on there. 2 or 3 have their "say" but you get that with every club.
The majority are begind the club and will continue to be there in good and bad times.
Kendz was a good mate of most of us on there and was always over for a chat after matches.
Best moments were the jumping into the toilet roll in Belgrade and also the goal he scored was fab.
He also made several fantastic saves and kept countless clean sheets as I mentioned in the stats page I did.
You think I am calling the lilywhites.co.uk message board forum anti-Rhyl? You've got totally the wrong end of the stick lads. I am referring to the fact Lee told the story of his departure to www.welsh-premier.com exclusively when I thought he may have told one of the club's three sites - mine, Rob Downes' or the official site FIRST. The reason I refer to www.welsh-premier.com as anti-Rhyl mainly centres around that rant when Rhyl won the Fair Play award and the webmaster saw fit to totally condemn it, and there have been other instances. Of course Lee was right to go on the Lilywhites message board and thank the fans for their support. I would never label such a fine message board as anti-Rhyl, especially as so many supporters of that board also post regularly here too, including you two. I am very sorry if I gave the wrong impression.
Rather than labelling welsh-premier.com as "anti-Rhyl" you should be blaming Rhyl FC's appalling lack of public relations skills.
In six years of running the welsh-premier.com site I cannot recall EVER receiving an official press release from Rhyl and it is little wonder that rumours take over from fact in those circumstances.
It wouldn't have been rocket science to issue a release on Kendall's departure on Thursday night, would it?
As for being anti-Rhyl, as you well know Dave I regularly visit BV to cover games and take photographs and the example you quote is a rare negative (which was mainly aimed at the FAW).
I recently received the following message from a visitor to the site: "Far too much bias towards North Wales Clubs, seems that only Rhyl have been playing this season."
It only goes to show you can't please all of the people all of the time, but I think you will find more criticism on the Rhyl message boards than on my site.
That last post proves Dave right.
No truly objective wemaster of a whole-league site would come on slagging off one of the clubs in the league. TNS-inspired
Sorry Dave, thought you meant our board.....Oops!!
Didnt realised yoe were talking about another site!! Apologies
Could you write about Phyicss so I can pass Science class?
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