WANTAWAY Sean Cryer's proposed move from Bacup Borough to North West Counties Division One rivals Curzon Ashton has been scuppered.

The West View utility man informed manager Brent Peters of his intention to quit Bacup after being rested for their 1-0 win over Abbey Hey on October 12.

Curzon served the required seven days transfer notice for Cryer earlier this month, which was initially turned down by the player himself.

However, he had a change of heart after Peters opted to put him on the bench to avoid aggravating a knee injury, which already requires surgery.

But, by then, the allotted 21 days to complete the move to Curzon had elapsed and the transfer forms were refused by the North West Counties League.

That means Curzon are now not eligible to make another bid for Cryer until the end of the season, so he must either stay with Bacup, sign for a different club or wait until he is released, which Peters is reluctant to do in a hurry.

"I have been wrapping cotton wool around Sean because of his knee cartilage problem, which needs surgery, but I've also been trying to keep him involved in the squad," Peters said.

"If we want to be challenging for honours we can't afford to be putting people in who are operating at only 75 per cent, or even 50 per cent of their fitness, unless it's an emergency. So he's been on the fringe."

But Peters is disappointed with the way Cryer has handled the situation.

"In pre-season, he trained and played for Curzon Ashton," the Bacup boss said.

"He's a non-contract player so I can't stop him from doing that, but he then pledged his future to Bacup.

"But two days after I left him out at Abbey Hey, he texted me to say he was no longer a Bacup Borough player.

"I knew he couldn't sign for Curzon though, so I'm holding all the aces at the moment.

"If I can help a club or a player, I will do it, providing they conduct themselves in the right manner.

"Sean isn't in my plans at the minute, but I will release him when I'm good and ready."

Nevertheless, Peters is refusing to let player unrest disrupt his preparations for tomorrow's FA Vase first round trip to Guisborough Town.

They are no strangers to Bacup, with this being their fourth meeting in recent seasons. And Peters, who has secured defender Billy McCartney on a contract as well as signing attacking midfielder Pitchow Misi, is hoping for a change in fortunes after losing the previous three games.