RYMAN PREMIER: Craig Edwards says Billericay Town are more than capable of coping without Ryan Scott after the defender revealed he wanted to be released.

The youngster announced earlier this week he wanted to leave Billericay, after he was fined by the club’s management and left out of last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Scott took to social media the following day, and he refused to rule out a return to Town “under different management”.

Edwards says although he didn’t want to lose Scott, the defender had made his position clear.

“He asked to be released,” said Edwards. “He is a contracted player with the club but he will not be involved this weekend and I am not sure whether he will be for the remainder of the season.

“Ryan made it quite clear he has no intention of staying but every club has to have a code of conduct and if someone goes against that they must be disciplined or there will be anarchy.

“We are lucky that we have good strength in the squad. We have Keaton Wood (on-loan from Millwall) and Steve Sheehan, with Richard Halle back in contention too against Peacehaven & Telscombe.”

Edwards has already given up hope of reaching the play-offs, with Town nine points off fifth-placed Grays Athletic with four games to go.

Although Town do have an Essex Senior Cup final looming with Conference South outfit Concord Rangers, and the Billericay boss says the team still has plenty to play for.

“We want to win the remaining four games,” he said. “We want to go into the final against Concord on form and that is very important.

“This has been a season of transition and we need to make sure we end it well ahead of a big season next year.”

Town have been boosted by the news that Jack Edwards’ red card against Canvey Island has been overturned, and he will return to the squad tomorrow along with Halle, who had been sidelined with a sickness bug.