Iron to back under-fire Burgess

11:57am Thursday 28th August 2008

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Lee Harding has said Braintree Town are fully behind their under-fire player Billy Burgess – after he was threatened with legal action.

The Iron’s Blue Square South rivals Dorchester Town are thinking about suing both the club and the player, following the defender’s challenge on the Magpies’ Ivan Forbes in the season-opener between the two clubs earlier this month, which Braintree lost 1-0.

Forbes suffered knee ligament damage, prompting Dorchester boss Shaun Brooks to label the challenge ‘horrendous’.

He has suggested the Dorset club are talking to a solicitor, with a view to taking action.

However, full-back Burgess was only booked for the tackle and Braintree insist that there was no malice on the part of their player.

Chairman Harding has vowed to fight the allegations and has vowed to fully support long-serving Burgess.

He told the Times: “We’ve seen what has been printed.

“Dorchester have suggested that they will initiate proceedings against us for a challenge that ended up in a booking.

“We’re waiting to see if they will put their threats into action.

“But we are very well insured and Kim Cowell, our finance director, makes sure of that.”

Harding is concerned that Dorchester’s threat to take legal action sets a dangerous precedent in the game.

“It opens up a whole can of worms because it changes the game from being a contact sport,” he said.

“It was a mis-timed challenge but it was knee-to-knee and there was certainly no malice on Billy’s part.

“Billy is saddened by it and we’re fully behind him.

“He’s a whole-hearted player and has always been committed.

“But he has never ever had any intention to hurt anyone.”

Having secured their first point of the new campaign on Monday with a 1-1 draw at neighbours Chelmsford City, Braintree face two big home matches in succession in Blue Square South.

This Saturday, the Iron welcome promotion-favourites Team Bath to Cressing Road.

And on Tuesday night, AFC Wimbledon are the visitors to take on Braintree.

Former Braintree striker Chris Sullivan is in line to face his old club for the first time since his summer move to the Dons.

Harding added: “Team Bath are a full-time club – they’ll be fit, organised and will hope to cause us problems.

“It’ll be a big test for us and I hope that they will come to Cressing Road and try and attack us.

“AFC Wimbledon will be very confident and will bring a big following to Cressing Road.”