News
McCammon “official statement” hits the web
Published by Simon Head on January 27, 2010
This evening, during the Hartlepool United v Gillingham game, the Gills365 Forum, along with the forums on a number of websites, received an “Official Statement from Mark McCammon”.
The statement refuted Monday’s story, and quotes from Mark Stimson, saying that McCammon was looking for a move away from Priestfield.
The original story, posted on the club’s official website, contained the following quote attributed to manager Mark Stimson: “Now that there are players coming in there will also be players that are unhappy and will want to go out.
“Mark McCammon is one and we have circulated his name. Mark has stated he only wants to play in League One so hopefully we might get a response in the week.”
The statement, posted on a number of Gillingham fan forums, the BBC 606 forum and via Facebook, reads as follows:
STATEMENT – FROM – MARK MCCAMMON
On Monday (25th) January, I was disappointed to see it widely reported that I was looking to leave Gillingham Football Club. Since signing the summer of 2008 I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and have had a good rapport with many supporters. I was proud to have a second successive promotion after playing a part in our promotion to League 1 and it would be clear to most supporters that I was committed to Gillingham when signing as I had turned down the offer of Championship Football at Doncaster Rovers, however because the Chairman Paul Scally had impressed me so much with his vision and ambition for this fantastic football club.
When signing I looked the gaffer (Mark Stimpson ) in the eye shook his hand at made it clear both verbally and in writing that I was committed to the project of trying to achieve Championship football for the Club as clearly I had just turned down the opportunity of this level of Football.
It has disappointed me to have been told in confidence by some members of the team, that they believe my treatment appears to be personal ,after expressing my views with regards to how we were set up tactically. In my career I have played under many fantastic Managers including such respected figures as Alan Currishly, Steve Coppell, Dennis Wise and Sean Odriscoll to name a few and not one of these great Managers has asked me to train with the youth team, which I was asked to do today. It would appear based on these facts that the manager may be trying to force me out, despite the fact that I am committed to the Club.
The reason I feel compelled to communicate my message is, so that irrespective of what happens the fantastic supporters of Gillingham Football Club deserve to be in [no] doubt that I do not wish to leave this Club and have never asked to . If I wanted to leave this or any other Club I would always follow the correct and professional procedures of documenting this in writing.
If the Manager now feels I am surplus to requirements, I have made it clear my personal ambition was still to ensure I played Championship Football or my minimum requirement at this stage of my careers was League One football, this is not meant to come across as conceited but merely a clear indication of my continued ambition.
________________________________________________________________________________
Mark McCammon
We attempted to contact Mark through what appears to be his personal Facebook page (as opposed to his unofficial fan page) and we received a reply confirming the statement above was from him and making clear he is committed to the club and does NOT want to leave.
McCammon was not in the squad for Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Hartlepool and we understand he did not travel with the squad.
We also understand the aforementioned statement has also been circulated to the local media.
Official statement or elaborate hoax? You be the judge.
Simon Head
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