Southend release Fitzpatrick - March 9, 2001
Southend have released Republic of Ireland underage striker Trevor Fitzpatrick, who now looks set to drop into non-league football, with Welling United expressing an interest.
Surrey-born Fitzpatrick, who turned 21 last month, was placed on the transfer list last December, shortly after the arrival as manager of Dave Webb. Now he has been told to pack his bags.
Fitzpatrick had a ten-game run in the first team in the autumn and responded by scoring three goals. But one of Webb's first acts was to sign his son, Daniel - and that spelled the end for the talented Fitzpatrick.
Young Webb arrived on the back of a 14-game, zero-goal record at Southampton; and now he can boast an identical record - 14 games, no goals - at Southend!
Back in December, when Fitzpatrick was listed, David Webb said: "Trevor has had plenty of chances to prove himself at Southend United, but has failed to grasp his opportunities. I told him before the cup game that it was time for him to try his luck elsewhere - I realised he had no future with us when he fell behind Rob Newman and my son Daniel in the pecking order here. He had gone stale and hopefully a move to a new club can reignite his career."
For the record, the 37-year-old Newman has played just three games for Southend this year and has scored ... that's right, zero goals!