Parrish just fell short, says boss

2:43pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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ALAN Knill has defended his decision not to offer young defender Andy Parrish another contract.

The full-back was the only surprise in a list of names released from the club last week that also included Colin Woodthorpe, David Challinor, Jim Provett, Andy Mangan, Jordan Stepien, Ben Leonard and Aaron Grundy.

Having made more than 20 appearances last term, many expected Parrish to be offered another deal. But Knill said he had not been convinced that the Bolton-born defender could make the transition to the first team.

"It was a difficult decision," the manager said. "I just felt that since I have been here he hadn't shown me that he could play regularly in the first team.

"He was a good player and I could have kept him for another year. But he would have been frustrated on the bench."

Knill has also come under some criticism for releasing young striker Jordan Stepien, who had been in good scoring form while on loan at Nuneaton Borough.

The manager admitted that he had not been able to see the 19-year-old playing in the Conference North, where he scored 11 goals in 18 games.

But again, the Bury boss stuck to his guns, suggesting that Domaine Rouse was closer to the first team reckoning.

"I have got a lot of friends working in the Blue Square North and the reports I got back suggested that he was not ready.

"With a small budget I cannot afford to wait for players to come good and send them out on loan.

"Jordan is 19 - the same sort of age as Elliott Bennett and Dale Stephens, or Richie Baker and Nicky Adams when they broke into the first team.

"That is the stage players have got to be at. That's the target I am setting for the ones coming through the system now."