Poole SUSPEND National League linked player with immediate effect amid allegations

Poole Town have took to suspend player Tony Lee with immediate effect amid allegations and a statement was issued on Friday.

The former Wimborne Town and Eastleigh striker Lee had been the focus of intense interest from professional sides in the National League this summer.

Poole have rebuffed informal offers from the likes of Yeovil Town, and Torquay United. Reports claiming that Southend made an offer have been denied by the Shrimpers themselves.

Official Club Statement regarding Tony Lee suspension.https://t.co/3vaYSGc4Ay

— Poole Town FC 🐬 (@PooleTownFC) July 22, 2022

CLUB STATEMENT:

It is with deep regret that the Club has to announce that Tony Lee has been suspended from all football activity pending investigations and assessments arising out of allegations that have been made against him.

It would not be right for the Club to pass any comment other than the fact that those investigations are on going and that unless and until the Club has more information than is currently available the suspension will remain in place.

The situation is under regular review and as soon as the Club is in a position to make a more detailed statement then there will be a further announcement.

Chris Reeves

Chairman

Tony is described by the club’s website to being a strong, capable and proven goalscorer and was Wimborne’s top scorer in the curtailed 2019/2020 season.

POOLE TOWN RECORD

Appearances – 48 (47 starts, 1 as sub)
Goals – 46 (penalties: 13)
Assists – 3
Player of match awards – 5
Yellow cards – 14
Red cards – 0

Team	Season	App	St	Su	G	Pen	As	POM	Yellow cards	Red cards
1st team	2020-2021	11	11	0	10	3	1	1	1	0
1st team	2021-2022	37	36	1	36	10	2	4	13	0
Totals:		48	47	1	46	13	3	5	14	0

Goal details

At the beginning of July, Tony Lee was said to be flattered by the interest shown in him by professional sides – but the Dolphins talisman wanted to get Poole back to the National League South.

Speaking about the interest shown, Lee told the Daily Echo: “I think it shows what I have done last year, and how well I have done personally.

“I know we didn’t achieve what we wanted to as a group, but having interest is always nice. It does give you a little ego boost.

“But I think there’s been three bids on the table, I think they’ve been turned down by the club, who have obviously got their valuation.

“That’s fair enough. They’ve spoken to my agent and my agent spoke to them about it and I think it is what it is.

“Obviously I spoke to my agent quite a bit about what’s been going on and who’s been interested, but as I’ve said to him and to Tommy (Killick, manager) and Chris (Reeves, chairman) until the club accepts a bid, I am worried about what goes on, but I’m not taking away my focus on being here and trying to achieve what the club is setting up to do at a minute.”

Despite being at Eastleigh, Lee spent most of his Spitfires career out on loan with numerous clubs across the south coast.

“Eastleigh were full-time when I was there,” he added.

“I had four pre-seasons there and it was four days a week, five days a week, overnight travel so that it was done properly.

“It probably wasn’t the best timing for me to be in full time football, but I learned a lot and obviously I know everyone at the club knows that I want to go back full-time football if it’s right for me, the club and obviously my family life and stuff like that.

“At the minute, I’m just worried about doing what I’ve got to do for Poole.”

In December 2021, Poole Town Chairman Chris Reeves said on Lee signing a new 18-month deal: “Tony has been a delight to deal with insofar as his new contract is concerned. We have acted in the face of interest from a number of different clubs and felt it vital to secure Tony’s commitment to us, to reflect our ambition.

“To shake hands with him on a new deal and to get the paperwork completed has given us all a spring in our step, made all the better by Tony’s obvious own positivity about extending his time with us.”