Football: Hodgson out in the cold

Hodgson, who signed a two-year contract in the summer, has not featured in the first team squad since starting the opening four games of the season.

He is on the transfer list and is being made to train on his own every day.

The former Nottingham Forest midfielder says the club want to cancel his contract to get him off the wage bill.

He said: "There have been quite a few problems and they have not been football related or anything to do with the manager.

"I don't want to go into the nitty-gritty but the owners are basically not happy with what I'm getting paid and want to cancel my contract.

"I have been offered a payment but it is embarrassing. I have a two-year contract, so I'm not just going to agree to have it terminated and then be out of a job.

"The PFA have been involved for the last four weeks and I'm waiting for them to go through their procedure.

"The owners are trying to force me out. They are making me come in at eight in the morning every day and train on my own.

"Apart from the physio, there is no one else there. I just run around the pitch and take shots. I am also being put on the bench for reserve games and don't come on.

"It is a ridiculous situation but I'm not going until I get the compensation I am owed."

General manager Paul Hobbs said: "From the club's point of view we are doing nothing wrong. He has not been performing either in the first team or the reserves and he is a disruptive influence. We don't want players here who are not going to do the job they were brought in to do.

"We have offered him a payment which he has turned down and we have offered to loan him out to three clubs and he has refused all of them. He is obviously not happy but we have to do what is right for the club."

Hodgson, who moved to Surrey from Cambridgeshire in the summer, insists he is only looking after his livelihood by demanding compensation.

He said: "I have seen some comments from fans on the internet saying I'm greedy and that upsets me because they don't know the situation.

"I have only just moved down here and have got a mortgage, so what I am meant to do? I'm not going to walk away from a two-year contract with nothing to fall back on.

"My missus has also just got a good job down here and I can't expect her to up sticks and follow me to another club somewhere else."

Manager Francis Vines worked hard to get Hodgson.

The former Nottingham Forest midfielder first signed almost exactly a year ago but left 48 hours later without playing a game to join Cambridge United. He signed for a second time during the summer after a spell playing in Malaysia.

Hodgson concedes he will probably never play for Crawley again and fears his current situation will make it hard for him to find another club.

He said: "It was a similar situation with Lee Elam but the difference is he had another full-time club in Weymouth to go to.

"I haven't got that and it is easier said than done to find a club. Before I had a good reputation at this level but now, from an outsider's point of view, it looks as if I'm not good enough to get into a side at the bottom of the table.

"Also, I'm not allowed to sign a contract at another Conference club until January. I can sign non-contract terms but you have to wait for 30 days and it wouldn't give me any security.

"It is so frustrating because all I want to do is play. I have never said I want to leave Crawley but I can't see me playing for them again because, after all this, I doubt the owners are going to suddenly back down.

"I'm waiting for them to give me the compensation I am owed and then I can go on trial somewhere else."

Crawley will be without suspended striker Steve Burton for tomorrow's FA Cup fourth qualifying round game against Braintree at the Broadfield Stadium.

Burton starts a three-match ban after receiving a straight red card in Tuesday's LDV Vans 2-0 defeat at Gillingham. Captain Ian Simpemba remains sidelined with a knee injury.

Braintree are fourth in the Ryman premier division and have lost just twice this season.