[Frank Thacker]

Seems like the Gladiators have given him the heave-ho... Their website (14.10.09) says

Matlock boss Mark Atkins finally looks to have lost his patience with winger Jamie Jackson, having told him to find another club.

In a frank interview on Tuesday night, Atkins slammed the former Chesterfield winger's attitude and conduct during the summer when he went and played for Blue Square Conference National York City in pre season games without his consent.

Having been given one chance by the forgiving Atkins, Jackson again angered his manager by his performance in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round home tie with Bury Town and hasn't pulled on a Matlock shirt since being taken off in the first half of the game. Jackson claimed he was ill.

"He turned up to training last Thursday after his illness so I pulled him to one side and told him that I thought it'd be better for everybody if he found a new club and we'd cancel his contract" Atkins explained.

"He's not been fully committed to the football club. He's done things in pre season like going to train and play with York and not telling York he was signed on with us. York's manager Martin Foyle was ever so apologetic telling me he'd no idea he was signed with Matlock. He'd no intention of signing him.; He was telling me one thing and telling York another. At the end of last season he said to me that he wanted to leave to play at a better and higher level. Then he came to me saying he'd changed his mind, that he was fully committed to Matlock, so I told him I would give him a go, but he needed to prove himself here by playing well, not only for the club but for himself. He played a couple of games and did okay, but then there came the home cup game with Bury. His attitude before, during and after the game was extremely poor. That's why he was taken off in the first half. Then on the Sunday night I got a text off him saying he felt ill and thought he'd be unavailable for the replay on the Tuesday. He texted again to confirm his unavailability. Last Thursday was the first I'd seen or heard from him after then. I told him to stay away from Saturday's game at King's Lynn, but to contact me over the weekend or on Monday before the Retford game. He didn't and he didn't turn up for the Retford game when actually he would probably have been in the squad with the injuries and that we'd got."

Jackson signed a permanent deal at Causeway Lane at the start of last season after two loan spells during the previous campaign after his release from Chesterfield.While nobody would doubt his talent and the fact that due to having pace to burn he can be a matchwinner on his day, his temperament has clearly let him down at Matlock.

"He's one of our big earners and we can't keep him on this basis" said Atkins. "Its a shame its come to this but its unfair on the rest of the squad and the fans. The supporters are entitled to know the full story and this is it."

Jackson, who has scored 11 goals in his sixty appearances for the Gladiators, now looks to have played his last game in a Matlock shirt unless there is a dramatic turn of events.

A fully focussed Jackson would be a bonus for Matlock, but fans will remember him now more for his probable demise at Causeway Lane than his memorable goals, in particular the excellent individual effort at home to Worksop last season, plus a last gasp strike which saw Matlock defeat FC United of Manchester.

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Stuart Basson, on Oct 17 2009, 07:50 PM, said:

Seems like the Gladiators have given him the heave-ho... Their website (14.10.09) says

Matlock boss Mark Atkins finally looks to have lost his patience with winger Jamie Jackson, having told him to find another club.

In a frank interview on Tuesday night, Atkins slammed the former Chesterfield winger's attitude and conduct during the summer when he went and played for Blue Square Conference National York City in pre season games without his consent.

Having been given one chance by the forgiving Atkins, Jackson again angered his manager by his performance in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round home tie with Bury Town and hasn't pulled on a Matlock shirt since being taken off in the first half of the game. Jackson claimed he was ill.

"He turned up to training last Thursday after his illness so I pulled him to one side and told him that I thought it'd be better for everybody if he found a new club and we'd cancel his contract" Atkins explained.

"He's not been fully committed to the football club. He's done things in pre season like going to train and play with York and not telling York he was signed on with us. York's manager Martin Foyle was ever so apologetic telling me he'd no idea he was signed with Matlock. He'd no intention of signing him.; He was telling me one thing and telling York another. At the end of last season he said to me that he wanted to leave to play at a better and higher level. Then he came to me saying he'd changed his mind, that he was fully committed to Matlock, so I told him I would give him a go, but he needed to prove himself here by playing well, not only for the club but for himself. He played a couple of games and did okay, but then there came the home cup game with Bury. His attitude before, during and after the game was extremely poor. That's why he was taken off in the first half. Then on the Sunday night I got a text off him saying he felt ill and thought he'd be unavailable for the replay on the Tuesday. He texted again to confirm his unavailability. Last Thursday was the first I'd seen or heard from him after then. I told him to stay away from Saturday's game at King's Lynn, but to contact me over the weekend or on Monday before the Retford game. He didn't and he didn't turn up for the Retford game when actually he would probably have been in the squad with the injuries and that we'd got."

Jackson signed a permanent deal at Causeway Lane at the start of last season after two loan spells during the previous campaign after his release from Chesterfield.While nobody would doubt his talent and the fact that due to having pace to burn he can be a matchwinner on his day, his temperament has clearly let him down at Matlock.

"He's one of our big earners and we can't keep him on this basis" said Atkins. "Its a shame its come to this but its unfair on the rest of the squad and the fans. The supporters are entitled to know the full story and this is it."

Jackson, who has scored 11 goals in his sixty appearances for the Gladiators, now looks to have played his last game in a Matlock shirt unless there is a dramatic turn of events.

A fully focussed Jackson would be a bonus for Matlock, but fans will remember him now more for his probable demise at Causeway Lane than his memorable goals, in particular the excellent individual effort at home to Worksop last season, plus a last gasp strike which saw Matlock defeat FC United of Manchester.

I'm genuinely saddened to read this.

Given that he's a product of our youth scheme, not to mention his relationship with Kev Davies, i'm sure we all hoped he'd do far better than he has.

Maybe he could learn a lesson or two about his attitude from 'their Kev'.

For what it's worth, though, i'll choose to remember his attendance at Sue's funeral and wish him all the best for the future.

[Westbars Spireite]

Sounds like he thinks he's better than he is. Which is odd cos if he's rubbish for Matlock he's about fit for top level Sunday/Saturday local league football.

[philmoore6]

MDCCCLXVI, on Oct 17 2009, 08:02 PM, said:

I'm genuinely saddened to read this.

Given that he's a product of our youth scheme, not to mention his relationship with Kev Davies, i'm sure we all hoped he'd do far better than he has.

Maybe he could learn a lesson or two about his attitude from 'their Kev'.

For what it's worth, though, i'll choose to remember his attendance at Sue's funeral and wish him all the best for the future.

it would appear this is never going to happen

to learn a lesson you have to admit to their being a failing this it seems he will never admit to

[Goku]

Westbars Spireite, on Oct 17 2009, 08:20 PM, said:

Sounds like he thinks he's better than he is. Which is odd cos if he's rubbish for Matlock he's about fit for top level Sunday/Saturday local league football.

He once got I.D'd for somewhere in town and replied with "do you know who I am"

Or so the rumour goes

[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

djs, on Oct 18 2009, 04:03 PM, said:

Its a shame that his career seems to be pettering out in this way.

why?

[clarevoyant.]

Haslandboi, on Oct 18 2009, 03:55 PM, said:

He once got I.D'd for somewhere in town and replied with "do you know who I am"

Or so the rumour goes [

Possibly he may suffer from amnesia

[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

djs, on Oct 18 2009, 04:40 PM, said:

Cos he was a young man with alot of potential and now he's not even wanted by Matlock (with respect to them).
A downward spiral maybe!!!

from what is written and how he was here, nobody to blame but himself

[philmoore6]

Ernie Ernie Ernie, on Oct 18 2009, 06:51 PM, said:

from what is written and how he was here, nobody to blame but himself

there is no disputing it is his own fault

but i agree that it is a shame that he fail this way because he certainly showed potential at a younger gae

it always disappoints me when talent goes to waste like this

[mr. smith]

djs, on Oct 18 2009, 07:14 PM, said:

Absolutly! When there are so many very good youngsters that are past over who would love to have had his opertunities. And he's just throwing it away

>shakes head<

& his bird dumped him for a stags player (shes an upwardly mobile non-league WAG)

[spireitenag]

I pick him up in town sometimes in my taxi. His ego and his opinion of himself are both massively bigger than his talent and ability ever were. A total and absolute "******"!

[the original blue pill]

spireitenag, on Oct 19 2009, 10:25 AM, said:

I pick him up in town sometimes in my taxi. His ego and his opinion of himself are both massively bigger than his talent and ability ever were. A total and absolute "******"!

Bang goe's any future tip then Nag.

[spireitenag]

the original blue pill, on Oct 19 2009, 10:27 AM, said:

Bang goe's any future tip then Nag.

He's never been renowned for that anyway.