Update on injured midfielder Craig Stone…
Ebbsfleet United midfielder Craig Stone is working towards a full recovery following a second break to his leg – which tragically occurred midway through his recovery from his first broken leg, sustained at Wrexham last February.
He will need to wear a special boot that is fitted with a machine that speeds recovery but since it is his second break, he has been advised not to push himself unnecessarily in order to ensure a full recovery and give him a good chance of resuming his football career.
Fleet chairman Duncan Holt also revealed that the club have reached agreement with Craig to pay him until the end of this month, the Fleet Trust having paid his wages over the summer and the club having continued to do this for the first months of this season even though Craig’s contract finished at the end of 2008-09.
“Craig will have access to the club’s medical facilities and obviously be welcome at every home game,” the Fleet chairman commented. “We expect him to be challenging for a place in the squad next season. Craig’s attitude throughout these two breaks in his leg has been second to none. He has attended virtually all the home games and his positive attitude has never waned. Through sponsors and friends of the club, we arranged a holiday for Craig and his family in the summer and the cost of the boot and machinery has been met by another supporter. I personally can?t tell you how much I look forward to seeing him pull on our shirt again but we can?t go on paying a non-contracted player indefinitely.”
In addition, the Fleet Trust and supporters are aiming to provide a small tax-free lump sum to Craig (falling outside the club budget) while the club intends to help him find non-footballing work to tide him over until he can resume training.
Craig made his debut for the Fleet against Mansfield Town in August 2008 following his move from Gillingham and went on to play 32 times in all competitions before his injury in the FA Trophy quarter-final at the Racecourse Ground.
