'The final straw' - Matlock Town to part ways with top scorer for gross misconduct

Matlock Town’s leading goal scorer has been told he will never play for the club again due to “gross misconduct,” including allegedly making unrealistic financial demands.

Jed Abbey went public claiming he was put in the reserves and subject to mistreatment after he requested improved terms to his contract.

According to Matlock owner David Hilton, the Dutch midfielder was already on “extremely strong money” for the level and just a couple of months into his season-long deal.

The club had the option of a further year and had no benefit in re-negotiating.

Hilton said the 15-goal player was originally given “a polite no” to his request but the issue surfaced again the morning after a County Cup tie in which Abbey started on the bench behind striker Conor Washington, who needed minutes on his return fitness.

“I had Jed’s agent call me saying Jed was asking about the potential of a new contract and assurances that with Conor Washington back fit, he would start with Conor or in front of Conor.

“We all know all the way non-league football is going. There is a hell of a lot of money falling down the pyramids and unfortunately with that it brings egos and he (Jed) is certainly that.

“The way we work here, there is a honest bunch of lads and no room for that.

“I politely let Jed’s agent know that and then contacted Jed to say it is probably best if he finds another club. His response was basically to sit on the wage until the right thing comes along.”

According to Hilton, Abbey was subsequently told he would be in the reserves but refused to sign registration forms.

“He was issued a written warning about his conduct because we class it as gross misconduct. He was also fined a week’s wages.

“Then he put out a statement saying he hopes the club sorts the mess out. There is no mess.”

Hilton said he had wanted to keep the matter in-house, not wanting to harm the young player’s public reputation and future progress in the game, until he put out his statement on social media on Saturday, the day of Matlock’s 2-0 home defeat to West Auckland Town.

“Unfortunately he has taken it out of my hands and when asked the question, I have to counter that with facts.

“The facts are he is a problem for us. Jed will never play for this football club again.

“He will be released from this club for gross misconduct on the basis of the statement he issued (on Saturday). That is the final straw.”

In his statement, Abbey claimed his demotion from the first team was directly as a result of his contract request.

"The plan was always to get rid of me as we wasn’t top of the league and to get me off the wage bill”, he wrote.

The 24-year-old claimed he accepted the decision train with the reserves ​​​​​​​and was instructed to attend their fixture on Saturday as an “unused substitute" before being told on arrival that ​​​​​​​he was no longer required and wouldn’t be paid for it.​​​​​​​

He stated he was “surprised, confused and even shocked” by how quickly the situation escalated.

In his own interview at the weekend, Hilton re-iterated: “I can’t have anyone treating me or the club with the disrespect he was

"There is no player who comes to this club who will be bigger than this club.”

The story comes in what has been a colourful season for Matlock Town.

They parted company with manager Ricky Ravenhill in August and after his successor, Lewis Duckmanton, resigned amidst abuse from fans, Mr Hilton said he was considering selling the club.

He has since committed to supporting current boss Nathan Haslam to try and get the Gladiators into the play-offs.

Matlock, in tenth, are at home to Beverley Town on Saturday (3pm).

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