Paddy Davitt King's Lynn player/boss Carl Heggs insists no-one is bigger than the club after firing midfielder Curtis Shaw on the eve of today's Unibond Premier Division trip to Marine.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn player/boss Carl Heggs insists no-one is bigger than the club after firing midfielder Curtis Shaw on the eve of today's Unibond Premier Division trip to Marine. (3pm)

The former Mansfield playmaker has been released just two games into his Linnets career after Heggs finally lost patience with Shaw's poor attitude to training.

“I told him time and again at King's Lynn we try to do things right,” said Heggs. “He sent me a text saying he couldn't make it the first week, then another one saying he was stuck in London and then again this Thursday to say he was in London again. All the rest are here. Danny Gay travels from King's Lynn, Lewis Webb from Peterborough, Andy Boyce and Ben Muirhead from Doncaster. If I am going to run a football club on honesty and hard work and endeavour I can't be seen to be weak.

“I was prepared to let him skip training every now and then but I expect everyone here on a Thursday night because it's probably the most important session of the week for a part time club. That is when you go through shape and touch on stuff the manager is disappointed with from the previous game.”

Heggs gave the 22-year-old a final warning prior to last weekend's FA Trophy win at Marine.

“I sat him down when we got to the hotel and told him please don't let it happen again,” he said. “Other managers might let him get away with it but once one player tries it the rest will always try to take the mick.

“He promised he wouldn't. I set strict guidelines because we have to stick together and work for each other. Those are the rules and he couldn't abide by them. He never showed again so I phoned him and told Curtis to find another football club. He had ability but he's tried the same at Mansfield and other places. I can't have that. No-one takes the mick out of me and my players. I'm in charge of them - not the other way around.”

Heggs has a ready made replacement today with Joe Magunda back from suspension to partner Carl Palmer in central midfield. Webb retains his place at right back as Leicester loanee Lathanial Rowe-Turner returns at centre half. Rowe-Turner replaces Rushden defender Bobby Aisien who has been recalled by his parent club for the Diamonds' FA Cup tie at Workington.

“The situation is Rushden have been promising Bobby a contract for a long time now,” said Heggs. “It wouldn't surprise me if he travels all the way up there to sit on the bench. I could have given him an ultimatum but I don't treat my players that way. I've told him to go and find out once and for all if he is part of their plans.

“Any player who is playing for me in part time football I want them to go full time. I can't tell him to drop down if he has a chance to do that. They might get an injury and throw him on and he does well. They might get an injury and someone else goes on but he'll know either way. I want him to come back to me knowing he gave his Rushden career every chance.”

Heggs is confident his men can seal a quick league and cup double on Merseyside.

“I don't think we played very well at all last week,” he said. “That goes for me as well. I've had the right hump since because even though I'm 39 I don't want to look like a clown. Unfortunately we must have a big targetman in this league so I have to play. We were organised but we didn't get it down and pass it. That is what we worked at on Thursday for a couple of hours. I expect it to be frantic again but when we do get the ball we have to try and put our foot on it in the opposition half. Both sides didn't play all that well on the day - we were just stronger.”