LYMINGTON & New Milton have confirmed the signing of Lee Chudy from troubled Wessex League outfit AFC Newbury.

The nippy little former Basingstoke Town and Newport IoW winger/striker becomes the Linnets' sixth new arrival as they embark on their great adventure into the Ryman League Division 1.

Already on board are Martin Beck from Eastleigh, Ben Griffiths from Christchurch, James Ford from Havant & Waterlooville, goalkeeper Mike Hookway from Romsey Town and former Winchester City winger John Mulhern, who has returned to Fawcetts Field from Farnborough.

Chudy's arrival will come as sweet relief to manager Ian Robinson, below. He has been searching for added firepower following the summer departures of Michael Jackson (AFC Newbury), Darren Crook (Poole Town) and Paddy James (Scotland).

Jackson will be missed for his height, but Linnets chairman John Mills said: "We've got a lot of pace in the side now and it's not always vital to have a big lad when you've got so many nippy players."

Hedge End-based Chudy started his career as a schoolboy with Crystal Palace and also had spells with Nottingham Forest and Reading as a youngster.

He played for Wokingham, Basingstoke Town, Staines, Cove and AFC Wallingford before signing for Newport IoW in the summer of 2003.

He was popular on the Island but, along with many of Port's mainland-based players, was forced to leave when they went into receivership.

Chudy has run into similar problems at Newbury, whose Wessex League future is in the balance after the bailiffs descended two weeks ago.