WIMBORNE Town boss Paul Arnold has snuffed out speculation linking him to his old club Bashley.

But the highly-respected former Bash assistant manager and coach admits his task with the Magpies will be much tougher next season after losing the services of free-scoring midfielder Mark Smith.

Smith, whose 21 goals helped Wimborne finish runners-up in the Sydenhams Wessex League, is on his way to FA Vase winners and league/cup champions Winchester City, who need a replacement for want-away skipper Danny Smith.

There have been rumours doing the rounds of unrest in the Cuthbury camp, but Arnold said: "That's not true. Mark's the only player who's left but Jamie Sturgess is going into semi-retirement and Scott Cannie has moved away with his work.

"It's true that we had a cash flow problem at one stage last season, but that's because we had only one home game in two months.

"All the players have been paid and the vast majority have re-signed."

Wimborne have signed Stuart Cooper from Dorchester and defender Adie Briscoe from Bournemouth Poppies.

Arnold's name has been thrown into the hat in the managerial comings-and-goings at Bashley in recent years.

But the man who has worked alongside both Trevor Parker and Frank Whitman at the Recreation Ground insists there is "no chance" of him succeeding John Robson, who left by mutual consent last month.

Former Newport IoW boss Steve Tate is among the favourites for the Bash post and it's believed that ex- Poppies bosses Keith Williams and Brian O'Donnell have applied.