LONG-SERVING manager Adie Arnold admitted he was considering his future at Verwood Town but played down speculation linking him with Sydenhams Wessex rivals Christchurch.

Arnold confirmed he had been addressed by two of his Verwood players on Wednesday over rumours associating him with the switch, despite Priory already having a permanent manager in Michael Cuffie.

Cuffie has endured a tough opening season with the Hurn Bridge outfit fifth-bottom of the table on the back of six winless league matches. Arnold turned down the chance to manage Christchurch in May, prior to Cuffie’s appointment, and was adamant he had not been approached since. But the frustrated Verwood boss did reveal his successful eight-and-a-half year stint at Potterne Park could come to an end and cited a lack of ambition as the primary reason. Arnold said: “A couple of lads asked me about the Christchurch link and it was not the first I had heard about it. “After last season’s talks, there will always be rumours about me going there and there is not a lot I can do about that. “My frustration is over the desperate need for backing from within the club (Verwood) and I have to consider whether they match my level of ambition. “It is not a criticism because we have a very small committee who put in a lot of time and effort, but it needs that bit more to push on and I think the summer will hold bigger decisions for the club than it does for me.

“The Wessex Premier will be very strong next season. Any side without a reasonable budget will struggle and I am not interested in treading water. “I would consider walking away. I am the sort of manager who has to have targets and if we’re not raising the bar year-on-year then it is not a challenge to me. “Every target we set for the club from day one, I have met head on and I want more. My target this season was to push on from last season’s 14th place but I have felt like I have had my hands tied behind my back.”