BAT are keeping faith with skipper Paul Masters in the Sydenhams Wessex League next season - despite his sky-high tally of bookings.

The former Saints midfielder, who came through in the same Dell batch as brother-in-law Alan Shearer, saw yellow no fewer than NINETEEN times last term - mainly for mouthing off at officials.

But manager Andy Leader is prepared to give him another chance.

Leader said: "Paul can be a bit fiery and he's let himself and the club down, but he knows his responsibilities as captain and I believe he will have learned from last year.

"At 33, he's an experienced player, but you're never too old to learn and I'm prepared to put myself out on a limb for Paul.

"Football-wise he's been a major asset for us in terms of stature and performance and we sat down at the end of the season and spoke about what will be required from him next year.

"He also needs to get down to a fighting weight to play football and he's only four pounds off his target now. Gut instinct tells me he won't let either myself or the club down and I've told the committee that.

"With a fit Paul Masters, I think we'll have the best midfielder in the Wessex League.

"If I've made a misjudgement, it wouldn't be the end of the world because I could easily turn that round. Paul knows that if he steps out of line again, it won't just be the captaincy he loses, he won't be playing for the club."

Although Leader does not adhere to the theory that referees deliberately single out 'marked men' for punishment, he believes it is only natural that a player's reputation goes before him.

He said: "Even at our level referees are too professional to go seeking out players, but they're not stupid. If someone I knew had been foul and abusive to me and I bumped into him in the street six months later, I'd remember that and be on my toes - and it's no different with referees.

"They want to be spoken to with respect because that's what they deserve. Discipline is one of the biggest things I preach to my players. It's written across the board in the dressing room."

Two other Tobaccomen with disciplinary lessons to learn are winger Paul West and young defender James Roden. West starts the season with a five-day ban after being cautioned for dissent and then shown a straight red for lashing out against Christchurch and Roden misses three games for bookings.

Leader, pictured above, said: "You can't defend what Paul did.

"Because he's never played at this level before, he came here with a parks football mentality and a tendency to lash out whenever he loses the ball.

"He's extremely talented and next season is going to be a very big test for that young man.

"Our young maestro James is different to the other two. He got way too many bookings but nearly all of them were for late tackles, which were down to inexperience.

"He's still learning and I'd expect him to cut those bookings by half next season."