UNITED'S bid to sign former Macquarie captain Josh Hyde for the remainder of the Mid North Coast Premier League cricket season has been thwarted.
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Hyde, an all-rounder and the 2017/18 premier league player of the year, has made limited appearances for Macquarie this season.
Hyde was the dominant player with the bat and ball in 2017/18 and spearheaded Macquarie to the inaugural premier league title. It's been a lean premiership defence for Macquarie and the side has slipped out of semi-final contention. A win over competition leaders Wingham has been one of the few highlights.
United had hoped to secure his services for the remaining five matches of the season. This would have qualified Hyde for the semi-finals. Had he received a clearance Hyde would have made his debut in last Saturday's game against Port Pirates at Port Macquarie. United won the match comfortably to move to second place on the ladder behind Wingham.
However, this was blocked at a Mid North Coast meeting last week, with other clubs refusing to sanction Hyde's move.
"He would have been a big plus for us,'' United captain Ricky Campbell said of Hyde.
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Campbell said Hyde wants a 'fresh start' and that's why he wanted to move from Macquarie to United.
There are two other Port Macquarie-based clubs in the premier league along with nearby Wauchope. However, it was Hyde's choice to seek a clearance and move to United.
"There are a few things that have apparently happened behind the scenes this season and Josh wanted a fresh start,'' Campbell said.
"He has some close mates in our team - Ryan Yates, Dean Mills and myself and that's why he wanted to come down here.''
Campbell hopes Hyde will link with United next summer.
He said he can understand why other premier league clubs would oppose Hyde's move at this late point of the season, but still described this as 'disappointing.'
"We have a good side - we're now second on the comp and we'll go ahead with what we have,'' Campbell said.
Hyde didn't play for Macquarie in last Saturday's loss to Port City Magpies. He was in the side thrashed by United at Chatham Park on Saturday February 16 when he scored 20 in Macquarie's innings of 65. United won by nine wickets.
Hyde showed his match winning capabilities in the game against Taree West on February 2 at Johnny Martin Oval when he top scored with 63 in Macquarie's innings of 5/217 and then claimed 4/5 as Taree West crashed to be all out for 55. Macquarie currently sits in seventh place on the ladder.
