FORMER Winchester City hotshot Warren Bentley is among a quartet of players looking to join the exodus from troubled National League South club Gosport Borough.

Bentley, Dan Wooden and ex-Sholing duo Mike Carter and TJ Cuthbertson all missed Borough’s 2-0 home defeat by Poole Town on Boxing Day and look set to follow Chris Flood, Jamie Barron and goalkeeper Martin Rice out of the Aerial Direct Stadium door.

A report on Borough’s own website stated: “Four players declared themselves unavailable for the Boxing Day clash with the Dolphins, stating their intention to leave the club as soon as possible.

“Dan Wooden, Mike Carter, Warren Bentley and TJ Cuthbertson were all missing, while Brett Poate failed a late fitness test but was still named as substitute on a day when Boro’ failed to fill their quota on the bench.

“The quartet should now resolve their futures this week.”

Borough had fallen behind with players’ wages but, in a statement issued over Christmas, the club said: “GBFC can confirm that the playing staff have been paid. The club wishes to unreservedly apologise to them for the distress and great inconvenience caused.

“The club also places on record its sincerest gratitude for them continuing to give their all on the field in the most difficult of circumstances.”

Team boss Alex Pike, meanwhile, has confirmed that Gosport will be under new ownership in 2017.

In an interview with The (Bournemouth) Daily Echo, he said: "It’s a difficult time for us at the moment and we have been through ups and downs. We have new owners taking over in the new year, which will be exciting, but they haven’t taken over yet.

"At the moment, I would be the first to say that we are not at our best. That is not an excuse, it is a fact.

"The past few months have been tough and lesser managers would have walked away, but I am not prepared to do that.”

Gosport play the return league fixture at Poole Town on Monday (January 2, 3pm).