Hastings ‘shake things up’

Wilson has offloaded striker Jack Harris and full-back Sam Crabb as he bids to get his misfiring squad back to form.

United have won just one of their five matches in all competitions this month and have lost three of them, including a 4-1 defeat at Whyteleafe last weekend.

Wilson said: “We’ve got a good opportunity to make the play-offs and we need to shake things up a little bit. Results have been a little bit disappointing the last couple of weeks and we need to see how we can look to improve it. We need players to perform and get it right going forward.”

Harris joined United from Faversham Town in the summer and scored an opening day hat-trick against Chipstead. The 21-year-old has been in and out of the side of late, however, and departs with eight goals and five assists from 34 appearances.

Crabb also arrived at The Pilot Field in the summer. He played 31 times this term, scoring once and providing two assists.

“Jack was disappointed,” continued Wilson. “He loved the club, loved the people, but for me Jack’s got to be playing every week to keep his fitness up. He’s a good footballer, nice lad, but we as a team just need a little bit more.”

Wilson, who expects Harris to join Hythe Town, still has four strikers at his disposal in Zac Attwood, Billy Medlock, Tyrell Richardson-Brown and Bright Temba.

The manager added that Crabb’s departure was by mutual consent and the 28-year-old had been struggling lately with work commitments.

Wilson stressed that the exit of Harris and Crabb was not a case of having to cut the playing budget, and may well look to bring one or two players in with the money saved.

“I think there won’t be anything over the Christmas period, but it might just give us an opportunity to have a look at one or two new faces going forward,” Wilson added.

United are 15th in Ryman Football League Division One South, albeit with between four and seven games in hand on everyone else.

They are 11 points outside the play-offs and Wilson is eager to get things moving over the festive period. United will host Walton Casuals today (Boxing Day - kick-off 3pm) before travelling to Molesey on Tuesday night.

Matt Cruttwell is expected to continue in goal and Josh Jirbandey should be available for the next month or so while back in the area from his studies in the United States. Wilson says that Matt Armstrong-Ford is some way from match fitness.

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