07/5/09

Midfielder Michael Standing has decided to leave Lewes FC following the club’s relegation from the Blue Square Premier.

Standing joined the Rooks last summer following the appointment of his uncle Kevin Keehan as Manager, but feels that he could still play at a higher level with a return to full-time football.

The 28 year old told the Argus, “A lot of people said you should only go part-time when you have to. They said you shouldn’t choose and I did.”

“In an ideal world I would like to go full-time again and give it a proper go but I will have to wait and see. If I have to go on trial I will.

“If I am fit I believe I am good enough to play League football. I don’t think I am any worse than I was two or three years ago. I have no concerns about playing higher and I don’t doubt myself but I have got to get fit and stay fit.”

Standing found the events of the season difficult, not least an injury he picked up on Boxing Day which meant he missed a number of matches in the New Year, as well as the criticism that Keehan received during his tenure.

However, the former Aston Villa player spoke highly of his time at the Dripping Pan.

“There are a lot of good people at Lewes and I hope everything works out for them,” he said. “Hopefully the club can move forward.”

“Maybe they will get back to that level at some stage and be in a position to sustain it, which they weren’t able to this time. I hope so.

“It is a big achievement for a club like Lewes to play at that level because there is not a huge fan base. They did fantastically well to get there.”

He also threw his support behind Caretaker Manager Steve Ibbitson as the club looks to appoint a new manager over the summer.

Standing said “They have got to try to get Ibbo to take the job. The majority of the team will be young players and he knows them better than anyone else. I hope he gets it. I enjoyed playing for him but I don’t think it is the right thing for me or the club to stay there.”