THERE is no love lost these days between AFC Totton and their former boss John Robson.

The Wessex League club say they are "livid" about Robson's comments in last Saturday's Pink regarding their classy defender Matt Parnell.

Robson is keen to sign Parnell for his new charges, Bashley, but claims Totton have priced the player out of the market at £10,000. He suggested a good deal for Totton would be to take £5,000 for the player and a sell-on clause of ten per cent.

Those comments infuriated Stags chairman John Dawson, who branded it: "A sly approach."

Dawson fumed: "Bashley may licence their manager to interfere in the affairs of other clubs, but we don't. We handle our business club to club, not through managers or in the press or bar."

"What is 'good' for Totton is a matter for AFC Totton, not Robson. This blatant attempt to upset the player and this club is unacceptable."

Although Bashley are adamant Totton HAVE slapped a £10,000 price tag on the former Gloucester City centre-back, Dawson insisted: "We do not put prices on players. As we have previously stated, we have never put £10,000 on anyone, which doesn't mean we don't value our players."

After succeeding Ian Robinson as Totton boss in February this year, Robson led the Stags to a third-placed league finish and victory over Eastleigh in the Wessex League Cup final.

Since moving to Bashley in mid-September he has taken both Stags skipper Martin Whiddett and wideman Mark Clothier to the Recreation Ground and what gets Dawson's goat is that Totton went out of their way to help Bashley when they were decimated by injury.

Dawson said: "We have bent over backwards to be a good neighbour, generously waiving the seven days on Whiddett and Clothier because of Bashley's need."

And in a clear indication that he is running out of goodwill, he added: "We are at the end of the road now and we will not tolerate this sniping any longer."

Robson admitted: "I couldn't give a damn what their chairman says. In the short time I was at Totton, I did a very good job for them. The day I left them they were joint top of the league.

"John Dawson means nothing to me. It would be better if he channelled his energies into making Totton more successful."

Bash have not abadoned hope of signing Parnell with Robson confirming: "I would like Matt more than anything at Bashley. He's got the right attitude and background and, having brought him into the first team at Totton, I'd love to be the one to push him on to a higher level."

Totton, currently sixth in the SWL table, travel to Bemerton Heath Harlequins tomorrow.