Dec is next to depart Matlock
Matlock Town defender Declan Eratt-Thompson has become the latest player to depart the club following the Gladiators’ failure to secure promotion.
The vast majority of the Matlock squad had been released following the play-off semi-final defeat to Bradford (Park Avenue), who then went on to lose the final on penalties to Emley AFC.
Only Eratt-Thompson, goalkeeper Declan Lambton, midfielders Tommy Elliott and Liam Ravenhill and winger Cameron Wilson were initially retained, but Ravenhill has since joined Cleethorpes Town and Wilson is expected to join a higher level club for a fee in the coming weeks.
Eratt-Thompson, who impressed throughout the campaign following his move from Ilkeston, has also been allowed to leave the club with the 24-year-old also attracting interest from clubs higher up the pyramid.
His departure therefore leaves just three registered first-team players at the club, with Lambton and Elliott having been joined by striker Jonny Margetts, whose return to the Gladiators last week was confirmed after the appointment of new boss Graham Drury.
Drury is now working hard to recruit a new squad, with new faces expected through the door in due course.
Meanwhile, speculation is continuing as to whether Matlock will remain in the NPL Division One East next season, or instead be moved laterally to the Midlands division.
The promotions and relegations into and out of step four mean that a move to the Midlands is possible given the geographical locations of the ‘new’ sides at their level, however initial and unofficial projections suggest Matlock could remain in the East division and again face several long trips to the north-east next season.
The FA’s Leagues Committee are now in the process of finalising allocations now that all divisions’ campaigns are complete.