The club has today (Friday), announced that mercurial midfielder Martin Rowlands has been released.
The experienced Rowlands appeared in the famous Red & White stripes on 149 occasions since joining from Nationwide Conference outfit, Farnborough Town five years ago. Indeed, it was the Irishman who scored the goal against Reading in April of last year, that so nearly earned the Bees an automatic place in the Nationwide First Division at the end of the 2001/02 season. However, Rowlands has not always seen eye to eye with manager, Wally Downes this season, and together with a frustrating spell on the sidelines, a result of injury and suspension, meant he started just 13 times this term, scoring once. In addition to Rowlands, the club have also released Riz Rehman, Jay Lovett and ex-Millwall striker Leon Constantine, making a total of five departures, following the news last week, that midfielder Mark Williams was being given a free transfer. Rehman barely featured in the first team, although he was a regular member for the reserves in the Avon Combination, whilst Constantine, bought in on a free transfer from the Den last summer, only started two matches all campaign, and could not dislodge either Rowan Vine or the now departed Mark McCammon in the starting eleven. The last of the quintet to leave is Lovett, who struggled to secure a permanent first team place in his three years at the club, making just 28 appearances in total, and only one, away at Oldham Athletic, during season 2002/03. The Bee Hive rated Rowlands as a skilful, if at times slightly frustrating player, but of immense talent and one who will be sorely missed by the football club and supporters alike. ARE THE CLUB RIGHT TO RELEASE ROWLANDS? AIR YOUR VIEWS ON THE BEE HIVE MESSAGEBOARD. | |||||
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