Dorchester Town will stand by Gary Bowles according to manager Shaun Brooks, speaking to the Dorset Echo. Bowles was convicted last week at Taunton Crown Court of grievous bodily harm, and received 51 weeks youth custody suspended for two years, 250 hours unpaid community work, and has to pay £1,000 costs. The offence was committed in Yeovil on 22nd June 2007, whilst Bowles was on the books at Yeovil Town.
Brooks said :
No way do we condone what he did, he's held his hands up and hopefully we can help give him a career in football. He's been fantastic around the club and I've not seen the other side to him, I want to help bring out his best side. It's a serious charge and he's had to pay the price but we want to stick by him.
The Magpies have been hanging fire on offering Bowles a permanent contract - he was playing on non-contract terms last season at £125 per match - presumably while awaiting the outcome of the trial. He started at right back on Saturday in place of the long-term injured Mark Jermyn, in Dorchester's friendly versus Sherborne Town at Raleigh Grove. Brooks stated pre-match he saw the line-up as pretty much his first eleven, though the 1-0 defeat against the newly promoted Western League Premier Division side may have given him pause for further thought. Bowles was taken off as a precaution after a knock to the head, but given the line Brooks has taken above the offer of a deal looks likely.
Comment on this News Item on Facebook
or Go back to Top of Page
|
29 July 2008 : 
