Wilson warns off predators

Kevin Wilson has hit out at the ‘outside influences’ threatening to derail Ilkeston FC’s EVO-STIK Northern Premier League campaign and is vowing to guard the .

As he finalised his plans for Saturday’s big game against FC United of Manchester at the New Manor Ground on Friday, the Robins boss, pictured, expressed his concerns the current climate around the dressing room.

Wilson believes that several of his young players have allowed their performance levels to drop in recent weeks and is blaming the dip in form on the growing amount of transfer speculation around the Premier Division club.

Wilson, who’s seen his eighth-placed side collect just one point from a possible six against Barwell and Halesowen in their last two outings, said: "I’m taking calls every day from clubs - and countries - who are interested in our players and every time we play, you can guarantee that a posse of scouts will be at the game.

"We always knew that would happen because of the quality of the young players we have at the club but Steve Chettle and I are trying all we can to throw a protective net around the kids.

"A lot of clubs are going about things in the right manner but agents are certainly not helping. A number of them are contacting the players direct - which they’re not allowed to do - by using social media and the outside influences are a major problem to us.

"They’re definitely affecting the performances of the players and we have to try to close ranks, pull everyone together again and get them re-focussed."

Wilson confirmed that it’s not just Che Adams who is the subject of attention from clubs at all levels of the game. He’s also aware that there will come a time when some of them will move on but determined to see both they and the club benefit with agents always keen to see players moving.

He added: "We won’t stand in the way of these lads when the opportunity comes for them to move higher but it’s very important to me personally that they go for the right reasons - not just because an agent can see a chance to make money.

"Most of these kids have been with me since they were 15 and I care very much about what happens to them. With the best will in the world, they don’t have the experience to handle certain situations off the field and need to be protected."

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