STEVE Hollick has applauded Neil Williams’ decision to remain an AFC Totton player.

Loyalty is a rare thing in football these days and deep down Stags’ boss Hollick suspected Williams might be tempted into a move to Southern One South & West rivals Winchester City.

So he was pleasantly surprised when the hard-working striker-turned-midfielder informed him he would be staying at the Testwood Stadium.

League-wise there is nothing to choose between the clubs with both Totton and Winchester enduring disappointing starts to the campaign.

But what swayed it, according to Hollick, was that Williams was happy where he was.

Hollick said: “It’s nice for Willo to stay and be loyal. It’s not a trait you find too often in the local football fraternity.

“It’s good when someone gets a nice offer from another club and could potentially leave but is happy to stay where he is.

“Willo likes the lads in the dressing room here and was very complimentary about the club, which was good to hear.

“He can see what’s going on behind the scenes at Totton and what we’re trying to do.”

Williams, a former Blackfield & Langley frontman, was transformed into a midfielder at his last club Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Since stepping up to the Southern League in the summer of 2015, he has rewarded Totton with a series of tenacious, battling performances.

“We got almost 50 games out of Willo last season, so he’s good value for us,” said Hollick.

“He loves the lads and he loves the club. He said we’d been loyal to him, getting him out of Wessex League football, and he wanted to repay it.”

Totton have no game on Saturday, having exited the FA Cup.

They return to action on Tuesday (September 20) in the Hampshire FA Senior Cup at Newport IOW.

New strike signing Ashley Jarvis is ineligible for that second round tie having already featured for his previous club Moneyfields.