DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE manager John Still has hit out at the Football League as the compensation case for defender Magnus Okuonghae continues to rumble on. Okuonghae, 23 (pictured right), put pen to paper with Colchester United over a month ago on June 30,

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE manager John Still has hit out at the Football League as the compensation case for defender Magnus Okuonghae continues to rumble on, writes MIKE SIMMONDS.

Okuonghae, 23 (pictured right), put pen to paper with Colchester United over a month ago on June 30, with a compensation fee to be decided as he was under 24-years of age.

A month on, and neither club are nearer a solution, despite U's chairman Robbie Cowling revealing last week that he had submitted another offer to Daggers, but it hadn't been to Still's liking.

Sensible

"The offer we received was nowhere near what we want, and we aren't being greedy, we're being 100 per cent sensible," said Still, who confirmed the tribunal had now been delayed again.

"It's like when Gillingham said they would offer 25k for Paul Benson, it's ridiculous to talk about those kinds of figures.

"The tribunal has been put back now, and it's a crazy situation. Clubs like us rely on things like that to help our team. I think it's a poor show and when I go to the hearing, I'll tell them that, because they haven't taken a small club like us into account.

"It's crazy and it's the difference between us getting a player and not getting a player."

The player that Still had in mind to sign is former Brentford winger Glenn Poole, who has been on trial at Victoria Road for almost the entire pre-season.

With the new campaign beginning on Saturday, it's a deal that Still would have loved to concluded, but it might now be too late.

Resources

"It's quite simple, Glenn would like to come here, we would like to take him, but at this moment we don't have the resources to take a player like him," said the manager.

"That isn't because he is asking for fortunes, he isn't, but we expected the Magnus thing to be cut and dried by now, but it's not.

"I said to Glenn, there is a figure that if we receive, then something could happen with you and us, but if we get less than that, it can't happen.

"I can only say at the moment, that we won't be signing Glenn Poole, and that's nothing to do with Glenn and nothing to do with us."

One player that Still is having a look at is Guyana international and Staines Town striker Howard Newton.

The 27-year-old has made six appearances for his country and played the final six minutes of Daggers 1-0 friendly win over Leyton Orient on Saturday.

"It's really a case of having a look as he has come in quite late, but I like him," said Still. "It would be nice to bring in one more player, but financially, it's very difficult at the moment.

"Football being the game it is though, you never know what will happen, so we'll give him another opportunity this week."

Have Daggers been unfairly treated by the Football League? Email: mike.simmonds@archant.co.uk

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