Dev suffers season ending injury

A season ending injury has brought forward Jamie Devitt’s decision to retire as a player with immediate effect.

The news he feared has filtered through and follows the results of a scan undertaken after the game at Radcliffe last month.  He needs an operation to repair damage to his thigh, a course of action that would see him out for the remainder of the season with a rehab programme to follow.

Jamie has therefore decided to put personal preferences and family life first and won’t be attempting to extend his playing career, with his sole focus now on the coaching aspect of the game until the end of the season.

The Dubliner has enjoyed an illustrious career which started with Hull City fifteen years ago and has seen him display his talents through the EFL, from the Championship to League Two, a stint in the National League and, finally, the Northern Premier League with the Reds. 

Manager Danny Grainger commented, “I’m absolutely devasted for Dev, a player I have shared a dressing room and a pitch with for the last few years of my career.”

He added, “I know how good a player he is on the pitch and the type of person he is off it and it is unfortunate it hasn’t worked out for him with us.  He will be even more determined now to play a big part with us as a coach between now and the end of the season.

“Dev has been through a lot over the last few years and has decided to call time on an amazing playing career which is a tough decision for any player to make.

“I know he will give everything to Workington Reds moving forward, helping us achieve our goals.

“I wish him and his family the very best for the future as he moves towards the next stage of his career.” 

Devitt, who also served Darlington, Shrewsbury Town, Grimsby Town, Bradford City, Accrington Stanley, Rotherham United, Chesterfield, Morecambe, Carlisle United and Newport County in a distinguished profession said, “Nobody ever wants this day to come and footballers believe we will play for ever.”

He went on to say, “It just seems to have been one thing after another since my first operation four years ago and this latest setback, which will require more surgery, is one too many to deal with, both mentally and physically.  I have had great support from my family throughout this tough period and couldn’t have coped without them.”

“I have loved my time at Workington and thank the club for the opportunity to play for them, and now I will give everything I possibly can to help the team and the manager in any way I can with the coaching aspect.  Let’s concentrate on a strong finish together and make it an enjoyable end to the season,” he concluded.