Great Yarmouth Town players poised to strike

Great Yarmouth Town boss Paul Tong and a number of first-team players have refused to feature in Tuesday's Norfolk Senior Cup tie against King's Lynn.

The players concerned are striking as they believe they are owed travelling expenses by the club's board.

"Unfortunately a number of the senior players feel very strongly about what's gone on," Tong told BBC Radio Norfolk.

A club official said they are looking into the matter but they have no further comment at this time.

Chairman Stephen Brierley saved the club from financial ruin in 2008 and, along with vice-chairman Stuart Griffin, funded their return to the the Ridgeons Premier League last season.

"We've been lucky at Yarmouth over the last three years that we've had a chairman and vice-chairman who support the club," Tong added.

There are faults on both sides but in this instance I feel I have to support the players

Great Yarmouth boss Paul Tong

"Let's face facts, we wouldn't have achieved what we set out to achieve without the support of the chairman and vice-chairman.

"But what you have to look at, the players who have decided not to go because they're owed expenses, some travel from Dereham, I've had players travelling back from London, one would be travelling back from Braintree.

"When they're only playing for expenses and they're not on vast wages that some clubs do pay, you have to respect that if they're not getting those expenses they felt strongly enough to make a stand."

The clash with the Linnets in the fourth round of the Norfolk Senior Cup at the Wellesley Ground was initially rescheduled from late November because of the weather.

And the Bloaters are likely to line up with a collection of youngsters to replace the absent first-teamers.

"I worked very hard Monday to resolve the issue with the chairman and those involved," Tong continued.

"There are faults on both sides but in this instance I feel I have to support the players because without them I'm nothing.

"If it had just been one or two I would have gone against it."