Hi °C | Lo °C Tommy Wright has warned rival managers that out of favour winger Stuart King will not be leaving the Showgrounds on the cheap.
The Ballymena United manager slapped the former Linfield wideman on the transfer list last week and left him out of the line-up for Saturday's home clash with Donegal Celtic.
Instead Wright gave teenager David Cushley the chance to make the position his own.
The chunky ball player's display matched that of the game as a whole in that he flattered to deceive at times and even his one moment of sublime trickery on the left, ended with a poor delivery.
It summed the game up, a scoreless draw that never looked like being anything else, although both teams had a chance each that could have won them the game.
Garth Scates's effort thwacked off the crossbar and Paul Murphy did well to stop a typically classy Rory Hamill effort.
"We were solid at the back and never looked like conceding a goal," said Wright.
"Aidan Watson and Gary Haveron did well for me and David Cushley, as you can see has ability, but we need a wee bit more from him in terms of work-rate.
"He'll get his chance with Stuart King on the transfer list.
"It was my decision to put him on the list, but only one manager has rang me and that was before it got out in the press.
"That's how the player network works in the Irish League. I haven't put a valuation on him yet, I'll take a few days to assess that, but he won't be leaving here for free.
"So there's no point anyone talking to him without coming to us because we'll be looking for something for him, whether it be a player exchange or a transfer fee."
Hamill, on loan from Glentoran and playing against one of his former sides, admitted that it had not been a game for the football purist, but he is remaining focused for the fight for points over the coming weeks.
"It was a frustrating day for everyone, but we've three games to go and we're looking for nine points," he said.
"We're not going to stop and start feeling sorry for ourselves because we're out of the cup.
"It was a tremendous achievement for Donegal Celtic to get to the semi-final and that's something we will look to build on for next year."
