I want out
By Matt Pitman

Thursday 27th January 2005

WANT-AWAY defender Steve Tully has labelled Weymouth 'not good enough' to win promotion from Nationwide Conference South this season.

The former Torquay United star accused the Terras of 'moving in the wrong direction' after handing in a shock transfer request yesterday.

And the Wessex Stadium player of the year also criticised manager Steve Johnson for making 'too many' signings since his arrival in November.

Speaking exclusively to Echosport, Tully said: "I've handed in a written transfer to the club in which I explained to the manager my reasons for wanting to leave.

"In that letter, I said I am very ambitious as a player and I now feel the time is right for me to leave because I don't feel the club is heading the right way and I want to progress my career.

"Under Steve Claridge, we were heading in the right direction but with all the changes since he's gone, we've struggled to maintain that momentum.

"I don't think we've got a promotion-winning side and my ambition is to be in a promotion chasing team, not where we are at the moment.

"The other day I was working out how many players we have used recently and it worked out something like 36 players in the last 10 games which is unbelievably high.

"New people seem to be coming in all the time and it's hard to win games with so much disruption.

"I've been at the club two and a half years now and, on the whole, have really enjoyed my time with Weymouth.

Extension

"But I just feel now is the right time to move on, make a fresh start and try and get back into the professional game."

Tully, who penned a contract extension earlier this season, said the decision to seek a move came after a request to train full-time with Conference National outfit Exeter City was blocked by Johnson.

"Handing in a transfer request is something I've been contemplating for a while now but that proved to be the final straw," he said.

"I wanted to train full-time with Exeter to keep my fitness up but the manager said no.

"I agreed the terms of my new contract with Steve Claridge and after he left the signing of it was delayed for a while.

"I signed the deal in November thinking Paul Buckle, who was then caretaker manager, was going to get the job on a permanent basis.

"Obviously that didn't turn out to be the case and Steve Johnson was then appointed."

Tully, who was brought to the Wessex Stadium by former manager Geoff Butler, added: "I hope the fans understand my reasons for wanting to leave and I thank them for the support they've given me over the last couple of years.

"My form has been a bit indifferent this season, which I accept, but it is hard to settle down when you play in such a disrupted team."

Johnson said Tully's request to train with the Grecians was blocked because no formal approach had been made by Exeter.

He said: "I appreciate Steve wants to get back into the full time game and I've told him I will do all I can to make that happen.

"Steve remains part of my plans but he'll leave the club at my timing, not his.

"It is up to him to put in good performances on the pitch, then clubs will come in for him.

"He has got to get noticed before he gets talked about."