Turner going north

Press, 1 July 1983, Page 26

Turner going north

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Grant Turner, the New Zealand soccer international, has almost certainly played his last match for Christchurch Mogal United He is to travel to Gisborne this morning for personal reasons and negotiations have taken place between United and Gisborne City about a transfer for the talented but wayward midfielder.

Turner said last night that he regrets leaving the team in its present position. “I am sorry to leave the club in that situation, but they have a team good enough to win the league with or without me,” he said.

Turner was sent off for the second time this season last Sunday, and now faces a lengthy suspension from the Canterbury Football Association’s judicial committee.

United’s manager, Mr Terry Conley, is in Australia on business, but is believed to be discussing the Christchurch end of a deal with the Gisborne club.

Gisborne City’s chairman, Mr Terry Martin, confirmed last evening that discussions have taken place about a transfer. However, whether Gisborne will have Turner back again hinges on financial considerations. Mr Martin said his club would decide on the wisdom of accepting Turner, who has had a previous stint with the club in the Rothmans League, after the judi-

cial committee’s decision is announced.

“He is not going to be any use to us if we cannot get any games out of him,” said Mr Martin “However, if his suspension is not too heavy he will be back playing for us.” Asked for his definition of a “heavy” sentence, Mr Martin said a four-week suspension would be heavy enc.gh for the club to think hard on whether to take Turner back. When Turner appeared before the judicial committee earlier in the season after being sent off in a national league game in Auckland, the committee ruled that the automatic one-match suspension Turner received was sufficient punishment. Since then, he has been cautioned twice, as well as being dismissed last weekend. The committee is certain to be much more severe on Turner this time. The transfer deadline for players wishing to change clubs, ended at midnight last night. However, the rule states that if a player can show that due to circumstances beyond his control he must move more than 50km away, or outside the boundaries of his association, he is permitted to transfer. Turner joined United last February, and has scored three times in his 12 league games. Certainly Gisborne City, lying as it is second from bottom in the league, could do with an in-form Turner.