Deano happy to welcome back Russell (From Dudley News)

Deano happy to welcome back Russell

12:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in Football

DEAN Whitehouse says he would never turn his back on a player following Chris Russell’s return to Tividale.

Russell, who is popuarly known as Billy and scored more than 40 goals in Tivi’s West Midlands Premier title-winning side of two years ago, returned to Packwood Road for a third spell last week.

The hot-shot had been on loan at Cradley Town from parent club Chasetown but signed for Tivi in time to play in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Causeway in Midland Alliance.

He joins fellow striker Matt Jukes and defender Andy Parsons as players who swapped Tivi for the Scholars only to return soon after.

Whitehouse says all managers have to accept players moving on is part of the game.

He said: “There were a few raised eyebrows when Billy was in the team on Saturday because obviously he has left us in the past. But if people don’t like it that’s up to them.

“People may worry he will leave again but if a club from a higher league comes in then who are we to stand in his way?

“You can’t get upset about it, that’s football and we are always happy to welcome back a player who wants to return.

“At the end of the day I needed a striker and Billy is someone who always does well here and scores goals.”

Whitehouse’s need for reinforcements up front was intensified by the news Brett Clark will be out for up to seven weeks with the fractured cheekbone and eye socket he sustained at Coleshill last month.

Tivi will be hoping to pile more misery on Heath Hayes this Saturday when they travel to the Coppice Colliery Ground, where the hosts have yet to win on their own patch.

But Whitehouse said: “You have always got to fight for your wins in this league — there are no easy games.”

A late equaliser from Curtis Tilt earned Gornal Athletic a point in a bad tempered encounter at Highgate United.

In the final six minutes the hosts took the lead through to Liam Florey.

But Gornal’s Pete Wood and Highgate’s Karl King were both sent off following a flare up.

Tilt then capped the drama when he headed home the equaliser from free-kick in stoppage time.

Gornal host Coventry Sphinx this Saturday.