St Albans City player has 'let himself down' (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Luke Thurlbourne released by Saints

12:14pm Wednesday 4th November 2009 in Sport By Simon Mail

St Albans City manager Steve Castle has released Luke Thurlbourne after losing faith with the midfielder’s lack of fitness.

The 19-year-old was left out of the side in August after failing to follow the club’s dress code and Castle has decided enough is enough after seeing a drop in his form.

Thurlbourne was rated as one of the best midfielders in the Blue Square South last season but Castle has run out of patience with the former Southend youngster.

Castle said: “He hasn’t been looking after himself. I feel let down by him but more than anything he has let himself down. It’s a massive disappointment because I was one of his biggest supporters. When he grows up he may realise the errors of his ways.

“Luke was one of the best midfielders on the league last year but he wasn’t looking after himself off the pitch and was getting less and less fit. He was not showing the promise and level the amount of money we were paying him warrants.

“He was a fans’ favourite and you can never say never but he has to get back as fit as he was at Southend,” the manager added.

“He needs to get his head together. He could be training every day but he obviously is not.”

Thurlbourne was one of the highest earners at Clarence Park and Castle hopes his departure will enable him to strengthen the side.

“That’s the idea,” he said. “We need reinforcements especially in the goalscoring department and hopefully we can address that situation.”

Goals from Godfrey Poku and a Drew Roberts penalty helped City defeat bottom side Weymouth 2-1 on Saturday.

“The three points were more pleasing than the performance itself,” Castle admitted. “The lads made it difficult for themselves and a lot more than it should have been. They weren’t a good side with 11 men let alone when they went down to ten men.”

The Saints face a trip to play-off hopefuls Basingstoke this weekend in the Blue Square South.

Castle said: “We played them twice last year and beat them but year by year the standards of sides change. We are going there expecting a tough game.”