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What's going on?

Gavin Browne
9/ 7/2008

HYDE United have condemned Northwich Victoria for their role in Gareth Seddon’s aborted transfer to the Blue Square Premier club.

Both clubs had agreed an undisclosed, five-figure transfer fee for the striker on May 23, only for the deal to fall through.

Northwich had apparently claimed on several occasions that the money would be on its way to Ewen Fields, but they finally got in touch with Hyde chairman Steve Hartley at the end of last week to say they could not afford the agreed fee.

The Advertiser understands that Northwich instead wanted to provide a down payment which would account for more than half of the agreed price with the rest paid in instalments during the season.

The impasse has come after a benefactor – who had agreed to ‘sponsor’ the transfer – was unable to get the full amount together and then pay it all up front.

Hyde football director Tony Beard said: "This is totally unacceptable. We are angry that the player has been unsettled and their promises to both Gareth and us have not been met.

"You can’t conduct business like that, you’re just messing people around. I don’t know whether they expected us to snatch their hands off but it’s a matter of principle.

"Gareth has been unsettled and let down badly. We’ve stated all along that we haven’t fallen out with him; he just wants to play at a higher standard of football which is why we said he could leave."

Lawyers acting for Hyde have now been called in and all relevant papers have been forwarded to the Football Association for their consideration.