Top gun Craig Feeney turns down Poole Town's advances to stay at Winchester City

Having granted the 24-year-old permission to speak to Poole Town, Citizens boss Ian Saunders was waiting with baited breath to see if Feeney would opt to join the National League South outfit.

And much to his surprise and delight, the former AFC Totton and Totton & Eling marksman has chosen to stick with City for at least the remainder of the Southern One South & West campaign.

“I’m very pleased to announce that Craig Feeney is staying,” smiled Saunders.

“I’m flabbergasted but, at the same time, very happy that he’s staying with us until at least the end of the season."

With a Hampshire FA Senior Cup semi-final at Basingstoke Town to come next month (March 7) and an outside chance of making the South & West play-offs, Winchester’s season is still very much alive and Feeney wants to be part of it.

“We’re on the cusp of something half decent here and, as much as Craig’s personal ambition is to play as high as possible, he wants to see out the eight weeks or so we’ve got left,” said Saunders.

“There are personal milestones involved in that. He’d like to see if he can score 40 goals, which would be no mean feat at Southern League level.

“It’s a very mature decision from Craig.”

With Richard Gillespie sidelined by tendinitis and Luke Roberts – brother of Winchester’s Taz – battling a hamstring problem, Poole boss Tom Killick was hoping Feeney would be the answer to his frontline problems.

Last Saturday the Dolphins travelled to league leaders Maidenhead without a recognised striker and had to turn to midfielder Marvin Brooks to fill the void in a 1-1 draw.

“Obviously it’s disappointing for Tom, but I think we’ve both dealt with the situation as best we can as managers,” said Saunders.

“We allowed Craig to speak to Poole, but I’m just pleased for this football club that he’s staying.

“I wouldn’t have been able to replace him at this stage and Craig is pretty unique as a player anyway.

“There are plenty of players with pace, but Craig’s very clever and keeps making good runs, supplemented by our more experienced players who put the ball into good areas for him. 

“I don’t think he wanted to leave. He’s got mates in the side and we’ve got a very good dressing room here.

“Things have been going relatively well for us and Craig’s been very influential in that.

"Where things take him in the summer, we'll have to wait and see. There might be different opportunities for him. But I'm just pleased he's staying for at least the rest of the season."