THE Metaltec SIL has replied to criticism from East Bergholt player Joel Watkins over the selection of the representative side that beat the Kent Blaxill Border League 1-0 last week.

Elvin King

THE Metaltec SIL has replied to criticism from East Bergholt player Joel Watkins over the selection of the representative side that beat the Kent Blaxill Border League 1-0 last week.

“I find it fairly bizarre that of a Senior Division consisting of 16 teams the SIL fielded a squad 'representing' just nine,” said Watkins.

“I would be interested to know on what basis selection is made as I can hardly see the point of such an exercise.

“Players such as Karl Sandilands, who is often deemed not good enough to even start for Grundisbugh, are selected ahead of people like Chris French of East Bergholt, fourth top scorer in the league and also a midfielder.

“Naturally I am biased towards this particular player as I turn out regularly alongside him but I'm sure there are other members of SIL sides who don't feature who could put forward equally worthy selections.”

SIL Inter-League co-ordinator Trevor Wardlaw said that the squad represented a fair representation, adding: “The original 16-strong squad contained players from Crane Sports, St Johns, Capel Plough and Melton St Audry's.

“Crane and St Johns played a league game on the same night while players from Capel and St Audry's withdrew.

“Kevin Cunningham and Micky Squirrell have been the joint managers of the SIL side for a while now, and it is only natural that with late call-offs they would tend to go for their own players who would be easy to get hold of.”