HAKAN Hayrettin admits leading scorer Mo Bettamer is unlikely to feature in Braintree Town’s crunch basement battle with Dover Athletic this weekend after the striker declined to play for the club.

Caretaker boss Hayrettin has revealed Bettamer pulled of the Iron’s squad to play Barnet in the FA Cup last Saturday on the morning of the match, after receiving interest from other clubs.

The 25-year-old, who has scored six times for Braintree this season, missed the 4-2 fourth qualifying round loss at the Hive.

Bettamer could have played his last game for Braintree, leaving Hayrettin disappointed.

Hayrettin said: “He’s been getting a bit of interest from other clubs.

“I had a phone call two or three hours before the game (against Barnet) to say that his head wasn’t in the right place for him to play.

“In my opinion, that was inappropriate and it came at the wrong time.

“I’d have conducted myself a bit more professionally.

“I don’t think he’ll be there on Saturday - he’s not under contract (at Braintree).

“He’s talking to other teams at the moment and good luck to him.

“But if a player says he doesn’t want to play, I don’t think that’s fair on the other players in the squad and you have to remember there are other players around you to consider.”