Boreham Wood Football Club can announce that Ángelo Balanta has today decided to join Dagenham and Redbridge.
Balanta scored 19 goals in 85 appearances for the club and was a firm favourite with both his teammates and supporters alike. He was also instrumental in helping to establish our football club in the National League and in getting us to last season’s Promotion Final at Wembley.
Wood Chairman Danny Hunter outlined the course of events that led to this most unexpected of transfers, by saying: “In truth, we turned down the first two offers that Dagenham made out of hand, but they were very persistent and kept coming back.
“Dagenham’s Steve Thompson then asked us to give them a ball park figure that we would at least consider. So, I asked for what I felt was a substantial fee commensurate with Ángelo’s ability, with a waiver included that linked this transfer to the Morgan Ferrier deal at Walsall, in which Dagenham held a 20% stake.
“I felt the chances of our demands being accepted by Dagenham were very minimal, as it would turn this into a substantial transfer fee and deal. I also felt that by setting the bar high, it would be the end of their interest, but Dagenham perhaps surprisingly accepted it and still wished to speak with the player.
“I, along with Luke Garrard, initially hoped that Ángelo would turn down the chance to move to Dagenham – which in truth he initially did, by declining the chance to even talk with them – and that I thought was the end of the matter…
“However, after receiving a phone call from our old player and Dagenham skipper Ben Nunn that evening, and after sleeping on it, Ángelo had a change of heart. Ang felt that he wanted to talk with Daggers’ gaffer Peter Taylor, and as I’m a man of my word, and as both clubs had already agreed terms, permission was given.
“After two days of negotiation between Ang and Dagenham, I then received a phone call from Dagenham’s Steve Thompson to say that both the player and Dagenham had reached agreement.
“In truth, the Dagenham hierarchy throughout this process, have conducted themselves impeccably and our player simply decided he wanted to go. We all know, that they’ve got themselves one hell of a player, and like Luke, my staff and our supporters, I’m very sad to see him go…
“Ángelo when fit has in truth been quite brilliant for us, but his circumstances and his priorities have seemingly changed. Everyone could clearly see that in his performance on Saturday, as his mind was understandably elsewhere.
“But that performance apart, from the first moment Ang walked through our door, he has been an absolute pleasure. The memories we’ve all shared together are too many to mention, and it must be remembered, that our academy boys are also losing a very popular PASE coach and I’m losing an important member of my day-to-day staff.
“People may question why I have accepted the deal, but I feel every player does perhaps have a trigger price and at 28, Ángelo has his. I also felt at 28, that it was only correct for Angelo to be allowed to talk to Dagenham, as the offer we accepted was substantial and the offer he received was also a considerable one.”
GOOD LUCK ÁNGELO AND THANK YOU.
