Yaku joins former boss at Borough (20.05.05)

AFTER three highly successful seasons with the Magpies, fans favourite Lawrence Yaku has flown the nest to join a plethora of former United team-mates at Hampton & Richmond Borough.
The news follows hot on the heels of former United boss Alan Devonshire signing on as manager of the Beavers for a third term, despite rumours of an imminent move to Staines.
The former York Road supremo said: “He (Yaku) signed last night (Tuesday).
“To be fair I brought him to the club (Maidenhead United), and I didn’t think he was that rated at Maidenhead last year.”
Devonshire was clearly pleased to have Yaku back under his wing , and admitted he was looking forward to working with him.
He added: “He’s very decent at this level and I think he’s looking forward to a new challenge.
“He scored 27 goals for me in one season, and if he does that again I’ll be very happy.”
Former strike partner Adrian Allen is still at Hampton, and Devonshire was also looking forward to them becoming reacquainted with each other.
He said: “They had one season together and they got 50 odd goals between them.”
Having been threatened with transfer listing by former manager John Dreyer, due to missed training sessions and even missed matches, Yaku appeared to be more reliable under Dennis Greene’s tenure.
However, Greene seemed unfazed by the striker’s decision to leave, saying: “It’s not a problem.
“His contract ended at the end of the season, and I knew about him leaving last week.
“I liked him and enjoyed having him here. It’s just a shame he wasn’t more committed.
“He’s had problems getting to games and training.
“I’m starting afresh next season, and if he couldn’t sort his work situation out, it wasn’t enough commitment for me.”
Club chairman Jon Swan reiterated Greene’s views about the problems Yaku’s work commitments had caused this year, but thanked the striker for three years of sterling service to the club.
He said: “He’s done extremely well for us over the last three seasons, but he needed a club that was more local for him, and now he’s got that.
“Good luck to him and I hope he does well for Alan.”

EXIT STAGE LEFT: Lawrence Yaku.