STEVE Claridge makes no bones about his biggest headache at Salisbury right now.

“We need to get a forward and I think everybody knows that,” the boss stated ahead of Saturday's Evo-Stik South West trip to Slimbridge.

The Whites are currently fifth in the table and have scored 27 league goals so far, but Claridge feels his side are making poor decisions when dominating games and are not taking their chances.

Salisbury lost two strikers who scored 93 goals between them last season in Tommy Wright and Justin Bennett and have yet to replace them.

Kane O’Keefe and Marvin Brooks have both started the season well, scoring eight goals each, but neither is an out-and-out scorer.

“We’ve lost two forwards in the summer and, ever since then, we’ve been playing catch-up and it’s been very, very difficult,” Claridge confessed.

“We’ve tried every week and gone in for someone and every week we’ve either been knocked back or they’ve been injured or told they’re not coming.

“We’ve gone in for eight forwards and not one of them have we made any headway with.

“We’ve been trying all season, but we can’t manufacture something that isn’t there.

“Everyone seems to be under contract and nobody seems to want to let their players go.”

Undeterred, Claridge confirmed he had put in an approach for another player and is awaiting the outcome.