Wealdstone 0 Harlow Town 2

David Hicks became the latest football player to feel the fan's wrath for daring to disrespect the shirt after Wealdstone huffed and puffed at Grosvenor Vale last Saturday.

And while it may not have been as high profile as Spurs's Hossam Ghaly discarding his shirt after being subbed or Robbie Savages' foolish disposal of a Paulo Maldini replica shirt into a dustbin ahead of a Wales vs Italy clash, Hicks was left in no doubt that his hair-brained reaction to being hauled off was a grave mistake.

After being substituted by manager Gordon Bartlett Hicks stormed off before throwing his shirt to the ground. That prompted an angry reaction from the travelling Stones fans at Barrows Farm and Hicks became embroiled in a heated exchange with one of them.

Having had a day or two to take stock of the situation Hicks, in a statement, apologised and has now been afforded a two week break to clear his head and concentrate on work commitments.

"I regret what happened after I was substituted," he said. "I fully accept that throwing my shirt off and reacting to a supporter was out of order and unprofessional but it was borne out of my frustration in the heat of the moment, both at my performance on the day and by my desire to stay on the pitch to help turn the game around."ÊÊ

The club's decision to give him a two week break before an assessment has been interpreted by some fans as the end of Hicks' Stones career yet Bartlett insists that is not the case.

"I heard after the game about the shirt incident and getting involved with supporters and that was borne out of frustration," said the Stones boss. "I chatted with him on Sunday and he fully apologised. He's been disappointed with his form and wanted to stay on and help turn things around.

"He's a great lad and I've been really impressed with his whole attitude. He has a job that takes him around the country and he told me he felt utterly drained.

"Many of these boys are not use to playing in front of fans form whom it means something to them. It's a learning curve and he is still young. "

Bartlett also revealed the first call he received after Tueday's defeat to AFC Hornchurch was from none other than Hicks.

"That is not the actions of someone who is not interested is it?"

As for Saturday's game Wealdstone were sunk by goals in either half for Jordan Fowler and Jamie Richards and James Gray saw red for a deliberate handball which led to Richards' penalty.

"We were nowhere near up to scratch on Saturday," added Bartlett. "Defensively we were fine but in the middle of the park and up front we just didn't produce. We sat down afterwards to figure out the reasons why we lost as these lads are not going out there to lose or to perform badly. They are a good group I am still going to stick by them."

After Fowler's sublime goal had given the Hawks the lead Bartlett's troops almost got back on level terms when Ben Clarke's shot was smothered by James Hassell.

With the wind behind them in the second half the Stones played with more aggression but any hopes of a turnaround were shattered when Gray was adjudged to have handled and Richards converted the spot kick.

Wealdstone: Woods, McCoy, Massey, Gray, Martin, Ashe, Forbes, Hicks, Clarke, Hughes, Chappell.