Lambert criticises lack of ambition

Lambert has become frustrated at certain players being unwilling to step up from Sussex County League Division Two clubs to Division One side Sidley and other players going in the opposite direction.

He said: “There’s a few people we’ve been talking to at second division clubs and you would think they’d jump at the chance of moving up a level and pitting their wits against better players.

“There’s a lack of ambition in my book. At a young age you want to push on and play the highest football you can, but some of them just want to coast. But I think that’s society today; people just don’t want to work hard.

“They’re not all like that, but that’s the disappointing thing at the moment and every year it seems harder to attract people. We’re quite established in div one now; it’s not like we’re always down the bottom end.”

Assistant manager Jamie Podmore echoed Lambert’s sentiments and both men have also been irked at some targets not having the courtesy to reply to their telephone calls and messages.

“If they don’t want to come, just say ‘thanks for the offer, but I’m not interested’,” continued Lambert. “I’m still chasing people that I was speaking to at the end of last season.

“I think life’s just too easy for some people, but maybe they’re not the right people for me anyway. I know the ones I’ve got now are up for a fight and if some of the dead weed have gone, that’s fine.”