BROCKENHURST boss Pat McManus has praised Sydenhams Premier rivals Salisbury for “doing things the right way” in expressing their interest in Badgers skipper Mark Barker.

Barker, now in his eighth season at Grigg Lane, has been in impressive form this term and caught the eye of Steve Claridge’s league leaders, writes Wendy Gee.

But instead of going behind Brock’s back and unsettling the player, Salisbury’s director of football Mick Jenkins phoned McManus directly to inform him that the Whites would be lodging notice of approach for Barker after the Badgers’ big home FA Cup showdown with AFC Portchester this Saturday.

McManus has spoken to Barker in the meantime and, while flattered by Salisbury’s interest, the wideman is going nowhere.

McManus explained: “I told Mark because I didn’t want the rumour mill getting back to him.

“Rather than go straight back to Mick Jenkins, I told him to give it some thought, but Mark’s adamant he wants to stay. With what our new chairman Stan Reid is looking to do, Brock is a completely different club now to two years ago and Mark wants to be part of it. He’s a great lad with a great attitude.

“I’m really impressed, though, with the way Salisbury went about it," added McManus. "Mick’s been very honourable.

“Mark staying is a massive boost for us. It sends out a positive signal that one of our best players is prepared to stay when arguably the biggest club in the league comes in for him.”

In an all-round pleasing weekend for Cup heroes Brock, they picked up a much-needed second league win of the season at Alresford Town.

Scott Joyce, who twice hit the woodwork, poached the winner midway through the first half. He won the ball in the air from a corner, Rich Hayter nodded it back across the six-yard box and Joyce hooked in from close range.

“We created enough chances in the first half to have won two matches,” said McManus. “The second half was a bit closer with both teams having at least one penalty shout.”

Alresford’s John Howard was so incensed that he didn’t get a spot kick when Hayter tackled him five minutes from time that he was shown a red card for protesting.

It’s just another headache for the fourth-to-bottom Magpies who, with 13 players unavailable, were forced to call off their Wyvern Combination game so that five reserve players could fill the first-team bench.

Brockenhurst are at home to Eversley & California tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Hampshire FA Senior Cup.