DOMINIC NAYLOR may well have played his last game for Basingstoke Town after Ernie Howe this week revealed that the midfielder had broken the terms of his contract.
The 31-year-old, who injured his right knee in the Camrose Blues' 3-1 win at Hendon on September 15, has refused to follow the recommended rehabilitation programme set out by the club.
And as a result, Naylor's future is now in serious doubt.
Town manager Ernie Howe told The Gazette: "Following his injury at Hendon, Dominic would not accept the rehabilitation programme prepared by our club physio' Mark Randall and our club doctor.
"He wanted to have a scan on his knee first rather than follow the programme and was adamant that if he didn't get a scan we wouldn't see him.
"There are outside influences and work commitments that are putting pressure on Dominic because, to be fair, this has been out of character.
"But the club cannot afford to pay for every scan, especially upon a personal whim. If we did it for one player and not another, it would get anarchic.
"Dominic has subsequently failed to attend the required treatment sessions and technically, that is a breach of his contractual requirements.
"It certainly places his future at the club in serious doubt. We can either terminate his contract or wait for someone to come in for him.
"Either way, he has made his decision. It is unfortunate and regrettable, but we have got to protect the club's interests in our player and we now have to decide on the appropriate course of action."
The news was relayed on Tuesday night after Town went down 4-1 to second placed Gravesend and Northfleet, a result which Howe said "summed up our month".
"Most of our best players, those who can make a difference in games, are sat in the treatment room. We can't compete against sides like Gravesend without them."
In his programme notes, Howe hinted at possible changes in personnel, believing the club has "a few faint hearts from individuals who are not prepared to meet the battle face on - an area I will be sorting out".
He then told The Gazette he will "definitely be putting some players on the transfer list", and it looks as though Lee Chudy will be one of those after his pre-match outburst on Tuesday.
Chudy openly criticised his boss in a set-to just minutes before kick-off and said afterwards: "He never tells you anything and hasn't given me a chance at all.
"I am hoping I will be released, which I will be very happy about because I never get a chance here."
The matter was likely to be resolved at training last night, but Howe countered Chudy's remarks by saying: "He is just frustrated because things aren't going his way but he has a commitment to the club which he has to see out.
"He can't threaten to leave or force my hand just because he's not happy.
"At Dagenham, when we were about to put him on, he took an age to get back from warming up.
Even then he didn't have his shin-pads on and he sat on the bench with his knees knocking because he was about to go on.
"That sort of faint-heartedness is of no use to us. Even tonight he was told to bring his kit to do some training and he hasn't done. It is not acceptable behaviour from a player."
Bottom club Heybridge Swifts visit the Camrose tomorrow for a Ryman League clash at 3pm. Paul Wilkinson may be available depending on his recovery from a rib injury.
Town choose from: Tarr, Honor, Forbes, Bristow, Lisk, Sumner, Davis, Newbery, Girdler, Eaton, Sills, Herbert, Wallace, Fraser.
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