By Martin Morgan

Last updated at 11:46, Thursday, 17 May 2012

COACH Don Gailer believes Whitehaven can still make their mark this season without Scott McAvoy following the star centre’s decision to take a break from the sport.

hand off: Scott McAvoy looks to hand off the Rochdale defence

Gailer rates McAvoy’s departure, for however long it may be, as a massive loss for Haven, but fully supports his decision.

“We have been talking on and off for a while, and Scott hasn’t been feeling great about footy,” said the coach. “Credit to him, he hung in until after the South Wales game, as he thought a win might turn it around for him, but he still had an empty feeling about it.

“Injuries didn’t help and probably played a part. We talked about how he broke his jaw a few years ago, and he had a knee injury this season and then a head knock. He’s also got his wedding coming up.

“If he’s lost that desire, the worst thing he can do is stay out there. He’s probably made the right decision for him.

“He’s 26 and maybe the break will do him good. If he comes back it will be of his own volition, and he’s still got plenty of time for that.

“If he finds other things in his life with his daughter and wife, good luck to him because he’s a really nice bloke.

“I’m not underplaying it, Scotty will leave a huge hole. We had probably the best centre in the league, with the exception of Jessie Joe Parker, and now we don’t.

“Two or three players will now be saying that perhaps there’s an opportunity to make a mark on the team. As one door closes, another opens.

“We have won our last two games without Scott, so it’s not that we can’t win without him.”

Chief executive Barry Richardson stressed McAvoy had no issues with Haven that prompted his move.

“There’s nothing wrong between him and the club, it’s just that he feels he needs to take some time out,” he said.

Gailer named McAvoy joint team skipper this term with a view to him becoming sole captain in the longer term.

He scored five tries in eight matches this season before suffering a head injury against South Wales.

Haven have since beaten London Skolars and North Wales Crusaders but face arguably a tougher test at Oldham on Sunday.

The Roughyeds, without a win in four games, dropped out of the top four after losing at Doncaster last weekend, to be replaced by in-form Haven.

Winger Shaun Robinson became Oldham’s 11th injured or ill player when he broke his hand at the Keepmoat.

And to add to their woes, the club revealed this week that ex-Haven winger/full-back Paul Ballard has decided to retire from the game and young centre Matthew Fogarty had gone AWOL.

Coach Tony Benson said: “We are not saying other clubs don’t pick up injuries, but there isn’t a club in the game who would not be adversely affected by the situation we are in now.

“We are working extremely hard to get back on track, but everyone at the club and everyone who supports the club needs to pull together.”

First published at 11:13, Thursday, 17 May 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk