Lymington & New Milton manager Derek Binns is chewing over his future now that the club have withdrawn their application for Dr Martens League football due to lack of finance.

Binns stressed that he had reached no firm decision about where he goes from here, but admitted: "I've got to say that I can't see myself doing another year at Jewson Wessex League level."

It's the second knockback in as many seasons for Binns who cut his managerial teeth running the Combination side of the old AFC Lymington club and is now in his seventh season as first-team boss.

During that time, the New Forest club have been regular top-two finishers but it was not until the amalgamation with New Milton and the move to Fawcett's Field two seasons ago that promotion became a realistic target.

Last year, however, their ambitions were thwarted because of a wrangle with New Milton Town Council over planning permission for an eight-foot perimeter fence.

"The initial reason we moved grounds was because we couldn't go any further at the Lymington Sports Ground and I've got to say that it's extremely disappointing that we can't progress," said Binns.

While admitting he had considered moving upstairs in years to come, he said: "I would have liked a couple of seasons in the Dr Martens League beforehand. Everything was in place, we'd got the ground development right and I'd been bringing in players with a view to next season.

"The news came as a bit of a shock, but I can appreciate what the club is saying. We've never been a club to make false promises and it's no good going up if you can't afford to compete."

Linnets chairman Terry Morris revealed that the clubhouse was not making as much money as expected and said the Linnets had to take "a realistic and sensible view."

He explained: "The minimum we would need in the Dr Martens League is £60,000 a year but we were looking at between £60-80,000."

"We have got new sponsors lined up for next season but we would still have needed to find £40-50,000. The decision had to be made, so we withdrew."