KRIS Newby has apologised to fans of Canvey and Grays after a week of confusion ended with him signing for Thurrock.

The 28-goal winger had agreed deals with Athletic, then the Gulls, before eventually agreeing a switch to Fleet.

He has also revealed there was interest in his signature from Ryman Premier heavyweights, Billericay.

Newby was in hot demand after his release from an East Thurrock side he helped fire to the Ryman One North title last season.

He explained that he had originally agreed a move to Thurrock a week after the end of the season.

But he said he was then contacted by Grays, Canvey and Billericay, and agreed to talk to Grays and Canvey.

He said he initially agreed a deal to join Hakan Hayrettin’s new-look Grays, but later decided against it because it had the potential to ruin his relationship with his former club East Thurrock, who groundshare with Grays.

He then sat down with Canvey manager John Batch, and thrashed out a deal to take him to the Brockwell Stadium.

But he said he went full circle and decided to join Thurrock after they got a reprieve from their relegation and were reinstated to the Conference South, following Rushden & Diamond’s financial difficulties.

Newby said: “It is my fault all this confusion has been caused, and I am sorry for that to fans of all the clubs involved.

“But the first thing I would like to make clear is this is not about money.

“I’m 23 now and all this is about is me wanting to play at the highest level possible.

“And once Thurrock went back into the Conference South that was the best option for me.”

Newby said he was genuinely tempted to join Grays because they have some of the best training facilities in the non-league.

He said if Thurrock had stayed in the Ryman Premier he would have joined Canvey because he felt they would have fared better in the division.

He said: “It is not that I think Thurrock are a bigger club. But they can just offer me a better standard of football.

“I know Lee Hodges [Thurrock player-coach] from my time at East Thurrock, and he thinks I will do well at that level.

“And they have a great pitch at Ship Lane so I am looking forward to playing there.”

Newby has been with East Thurrock since he was 17 years old, and broke into the first team when he was 20.

He became a firm fans’ favourite at Rookery hill, and said he would miss manager John Coventry and everyone else at a club he regarded as a “family.”