EAST Thurrock manager John Coventry says he is going to give Kris Newby another chance at the club, despite the player’s well-documented gambling addiction.

The Rocks boss says the highly-rated winger has been invited back for pre-season after finishing the last campaign on loan at local rivals and Ryman One North champions Grays after appearing to burn his bridges at Rookery Hill.

Newby made national newspaper headlines and was featured on TV after he admitted his addiction to gambling in an exclusive interview with the Echo.

At the time Coventry announced that Newby’s situation had ruined his relationship with the club and himself, and said he would not play for Rocks again.

But time has proved a healer and, with Newby continuing to seek expert help with his addiction, Coventry says the player deserves another chance.

“At the time things with Kris accelerated quickly and maybe some things were said in haste on all sides,” said Coventry.

“I was perhaps a little naive about the problem facing Kris and I now appreciate that he was suffering from an illness.

“In a situation where someone is ill, they deserve help and support not condemnation.

“And, as I have learned a lot more about Kris’s problems and the manner in which he has addressed them, I feel that it would be unhelpful and unfair if East Thurrock didn’t afford him the courtesy of more support.

“Kris will return for pre-season and we will see how it goes from there.

“He is a contracted player with our club and if things go well it is possible he will stay here and resurrect his East Thurrock career — or it may be that other opportunities become available.

“Only time will resolve those issues and the least we can do is give Kris that time.”