It’s a war of words

10:53am Friday 11th July 2008

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LEE MAPALS has revealed it was disagreements with assistant-coach James Ratcliffe that helped bring about his departure from York City Knights.

The 22-year-old top try-scorer has been put on the transfer list at his own request after showdown talks with club management, and hopes to win a move to a National League One club.

He had twice been dropped from the first team for failing to attend training on a regular basis and, while he argued he had found it difficult to get there after starting a new job in Leeds, he has now told The Press he also felt he was targeted for criticism from the coaching staff – more so from Ratcliffe than player-coach Paul March.

Mapals said: “I’m happy they’ve said I can go if I can get another club. As long as my agent does his job I should be able to get a club.

“I wasn’t happy there (at the Knights) any more. The more I stayed, the more I didn’t want to play.

“I didn’t seem to get on with James more than Paul. It seemed to be all targeted at me. If anything went wrong and it was me, it was my fault; if it was anybody else, it was a team thing.”

Mapals had signed for York from local amateurs New Earswick All Blacks in 2006. He started out in the academy side before progressing to Mick Cook’s first team at the end of that season, scoring two tries in two National League One appearances.

He was the Knights’ top try-scorer the following year in NL2, with 19 from 31 games, and topped the list again this term with 18 from 18.

“It’s been good,” he said of his time at Huntington Stadium. “I’ve enjoyed it. But it started to get a bit much for me and I thought I needed to move on to further my career. The more I was there, the more I felt I wanted to stop playing.”

Featherstone and Batley, both of NL1, are believed to be the clubs in the running, while NL2 big-spenders Oldham have also shown an interest.

“Hopefully I will be going up to NL1 all being well, if what my agent says is correct,” said Mapals, who also had a quick message for the supporters.

“I’m sorry for leaving. They might think I’m leaving them in the lurch, but if I’m not happy I’m not going to perform well.

“I hope the club does well and the fans get something to cheer.”

Ratcliffe said he would lose no sleep over what Mapals had said.

“Lee’s let himself down by wanting away from the club when the pressure got a bit much on him,” he explained.

“All we’ve asked him to do is conform like everybody else is expected to do, i.e. train three times a week and fulfil certain club duties like handing tip sheets in. It’s part of the team ethic rather than being an individual.

“I didn’t know Lee before I came to the club and I’ve no reason to dislike him. But I’m not in a popularity contest – I’m here to get results for York and we need the team ethic. If he uses me as his excuse for leaving, that’s up to him. I’ve got broad shoulders.”

*The Knights will give trialist Michael Brown, 23, a run-out in the reserves match against Salford at Heworth tomorrow (kick off 2.30pm). Brown is a BARLA international full-back/winger with amateurs Eastmoor.

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Who’s at fault in the Knights rift over Lee Mapals?