Smith: Bromsgrove Sporting defender Preston has been 'unfairly treated' after rejecting recall to Hereford - The Bromsgrove Standard

Smith: Bromsgrove Sporting defender Preston has been 'unfairly treated' after rejecting recall to Hereford

Bromsgrove Editorial 22nd Jan, 2018   0

BROMSGROVE Sporting boss Paul Smith has jumped to the defence of defender Dan Preston after he was subjected to a scathing attack by Hereford boss Pete Beadle after rejecting a recall to his parent club.

The 26-year-old, who is dual registered with the Rouslers, was asked to play for the Southern League Premier title hopefuls at Dorchester Town on Saturday due to a spate of flu depleting the Hereford squad.

However, the former Birmingham City youth product decided to play a part in Sporting’s Midland League Premier Division clash at Haughmond instead, scoring late on in a 3-2 defeat at the Shrewsbury Sports Village.

Speaking to BBC Hereford and Worcester afterwards Bulls boss Beadle was left ‘disappointed’ by Preston’s decision and has stated the defender has ‘put his own nails in his coffin’.




But Sporting gaffer Smith told the Standard he felt Preston had been ‘hung out to dry’.

Preston had signed for the Rouslers to get some games under his belt from now until the end of the season and was expected to return to the Bulls in the summer.


But it looks likely he will not be involved with Beadle’s side ever again.

“I asked Pete to clarify the situation before I signed Dan and he was brilliant about it,” said Smith.

“He told me he would not be calling him back until pre-season and that is what I wanted.

“I could not afford to bring Dan in, have him get used to the lads and then to be called back after five weeks.

“But Dan then had the call on Friday night asking him if he wanted to go back because Hereford had trouble with squad numbers.

“I felt he was put in a nasty position because Dan did not know what was the right or wrong thing to do and was quite upset about it.

“I urged him to not get upset and think what was best for him and in the end he decided to play for us.

“However, I find he has been a little bit unfairly treated over that decision.”

Smith added Preston would be subject to a number of offers in the summer from higher-ranked clubs but stressed he would ‘fight tooth and nail’ to keep him at Sporting for the foreseeable future.

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