LEIGH Phillips is due to make his mind up today about a possible move away from Salisbury City.

Bournemouth Poppies are now out of the running for the 30-year-old former Lymington & New Milton hotshot, but Newport IoW remain as keen as ever and Wessex new boys Winchester City have emerged as late contenders for his signature.

Although Salisbury have not closed the door on Phillips after his short spell at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium last season, they have not offered him a contract either.

In contrast to his prolific 40-goals-a-season exploits with Lymington, the striker took time to settle at the higher level, bagging just one goal for the Whites from eight starts and four appearances off the bench.

Phillips admitted: "I like it at Salisbury, but there's a bit of indecision there. They've had other forwards turning up at training and they're not exactly beating my door down.

"It hasn't helped that I've been away on holiday and missed four training sessions.

"Winchester have come in as a late entry, but it's a question of whether I want to go back to the Wessex League or not."

Newport boss Steve Tate, a near neighbour of Phillips's in Bournemouth, is working hard to persuade him to continue his Southern League career on the Island.

Tate has a high regard for his front two of Jamie O'Rourke and Ashley Wright, but reckons Phillips is one of those brave players who will run through brick walls.

Tate, a former Havant, Waterlooville and Weymouth marksman, rattled in a fair few goals himself at Southern League level and said: "Strikers can have all the ability in the world, but the big scorers get goals from inside the six-yard box.

"I got nearly all mine from there and Leigh's the same.

"Every club needs the sort of player who is willing to get hurt to score goals and the only one in this area I would go out and buy is James Taylor of Havant & Waterlooville. The two at Winchester City (Andy Forbes and Ian Mancey) are also good players along with Neil Scammell of Gosport, but I think they cheat themselves by playing at a standard they shouldn't be playing at.

"The irony is that I originally recommended Leigh to Hardsy (Winchester manager Neil Hards), but if he ends up going there I'd be very disappointed because I think he can do a good job in the Southern League.

"Leigh and I go back a long way and I can still see the fire in his belly. It's not as if he's all washed up. He looks leaner and fitter than I've seen him for a long time.

"It's whether I can convince him to come to Newport, but if pestering's got anything to do with it, then he will!"

The Wessex League have clinched a three-year sponsorship deal with timber and building merchants Sydenhams. See tomorrow evening's Pink for full story and details of a radical development programme for the Hampshire League.