WINCHESTER City boss Paul Masters is backing departed skipper and goal machine Warren Bentley to carry on banging in the goals at Gosport Borough.

From a Winchester point of view, Masters is naturally disappointed to lose his skipper and talisman, who scored a phenomenal 57 goals in all competitions last term.

But, on the other hand, he believes Bentley – a PE teacher at Sholing Technology College – deserves enormous credit for stepping up two levels into the National League South.

“Warren wants to play higher and he deserves to,” said Masters.

“There are too many lads locally who are just happy to play Wessex football, so good luck to him.

“On and off the pitch Warren has been a credit to himself and the club and, taking my Winchester hat off, I’m glad he wants to test himself.

“To be fair to (Gosport boss) Alex Pike, most of the lads he’s taken there from local clubs have done well.

"Lads like Mike Carter and TJ Cuthbertson (signed from Sholing) and Rory Williams (from Folland Sports) have all shown they can play at that level. Hopefully Warren will be the next one.

“If he starts the season well, I think he will be a superb signing for them.”

Although Winchester have no immediate replacement for Bentley, they were always aware that he would probably move on if promotion from the Southern One South & West did not materialise.

"I've been in dialogue with Warren for six months and it's no major suprise that he's gone," said Masters. "We're like everyone else and we've got people we'll be speaking to. We've got three or four players we'll be talking to next week."

Director of football Dave Malone added: "Warren deserves an opportunity to play at a higher level. He has given WCFC two excellent years and he now moves on with our thanks and best wishes.

"Just as we have done before, we will now move on and we have already begun the search for new players for next season."