LAST season’s top scorer Craig Feeney has committed himself to AFC Totton for the new Evo-Stik Southern One South & West campaign.

The 22-year-old had the chance to step up into the Premier Division but has turned down overtures from Weymouth and Dorchester Town.

Feeney’s decision helps atone for the loss of midfielder Liam Gilbert and centre-back Rob Flooks who have both rejected new deals and featured on trial for Southern League new boys Winchester City in Saturday’s 0-0 friendly draw with Gosport Borough.

Former Totton & Eling hotshot Feeney started last season like a house on fire, scoring seven times in the opening seven games.

He eventually finished with 22 in the league, placing him eighth in the 2014/15 South & West goal charts.

“We’ve had a fair bit of interest in Craig, first from Weymouth and then from Dorchester at the eleventh hour,” reported Stags boss Steve Hollick.

“But he weighed it all up and, with us signing (widemen) Mike Gosney and Nick Watts, he knows he will get a fair bit of service next season.

“He was offered a good deal by Weymouth and, at one point, I thought he was going to go, but his heart’s at Totton and hopefully we’ll be playing a bit more on the deck this season which will be good for him.

“If Craig has another good season with us, I’m sure higher clubs will come back in for him if we don’t go up and he can look again, but I think he’s made a good decision to stay.”

Hollick would ideally like to have kept Gilbert and Flooks too, but both have opted to move on.

“We tried to put the best offer we could on the table, but they’ve decided to go to pastures new,” said Hollick.

“Liam turned down our offer to play higher, so it’s a bit annoying if he does go sideways to Winchester, but that’s football.

“Winchester coming into our division is brilliant for us because it’s another local derby, which we needed, but it does mean we’re competing for the same sort of players.

“We gave both lads a fair deal and it’s up to them what they do, I wish them all the best.

“We’ve got to concentrate on the lads that want to play for Totton.

“Craig (Feeney) staying is good news for us and we’ve agreed in principle with Sherbs (forward Nathaniel Sherborne) as well, so we’ve got a strong squad and we’re hoping to get another couple of players in this week.”

One valuable off-field addition for the Stags is respected local physio Dave Penny, formerly of Eastleigh, Romsey Town and Totton & Eling.