JERSEY BULLS manager Gary Freeman added his voice of sympathy to the situation at Jersey Reds, ahead his side’s clash at Camberley Town tomorrow.
The demise of the rugby club highlights the financial precariousness of teams being able to compete on the national stage. Bulls also have to foot the bill for travel costs for both themselves and any visiting team to the Island. However, unlike Reds, they don’t have player and staff wages to contend with as well.
‘It’s really sad to see because the way the club has been built up over the years has been a success story,’ said Freeman.
‘Losing a professional outfit, it’s tough and really sad for the people involved. But there’s a lot of good people still up there and I am sure they will bounce back.’
For now, though, Freeman is more concerned with ensuring they come back from Surrey with all three points, having contrived to throw two away last week at Sandhurst Town as they conceded two goals in injury time when leading 4-2.
Camberley present Bulls with a similar challenge and Freeman acknowledges that they cannot afford to slip up in the same manner.
‘You can’t be doing that really. The learning situation for us is to put the ball in areas where we can manage the game better,’ he added.
‘I use Knaphill as an example who are experienced at that sort of thing.
‘I think when we got to 4-2 we thought the job was done but when it went to 4-3 we need to get a grip of it better. It was disappointing.’
Like Sandhurst, Camberley find themselves struggling down towards the bottom of the Combined Counties Premier Division South table but, once again, Freeman knows his side would be fools to take things for granted.
‘Camberley are a young side and they will compete with a lot of energy,’ he continued. ‘We expect to win but they will have threats. It’s about us showing our experience and making sure that last Saturday was a one off and do the job we need to do.’
Jersey Bulls squad: Euan Van Der Vliet, Harry Curtis, Jay Giles, Will Byers, James Carr, Sammy Sutcliffe, Luke Campbell (c), Ben Le Rougetel, Luke Watson, Jack Boyle, Jonny Le Quesne, Francis Lekimamati, Miguel Carvalho, Lorne Bickley
