PREMIER Division title rivals Salisbury City have poached transfer target Luke Prince from the Bluebirds' nest after Chippenham refused to meet the player's wage demands.

Darren Perrin shook hands with the former Mangotsfield winger after Saturday's win over Banbury United, but the Blues' boss claims the deal fell through when Prince demanded more money.

He said: "I got a call from Luke's dad, Mike, the following day. He was angling for more money and when we refused both parties pulled out.

"We are not going to sign any player who is not fully committed to Chippenham Town. We have to sign players for the right reasons.

"In the end he tried to play us off against the other clubs, but this is no great loss to us."

Prince was named man-of-the-match on his Salisbury debut on Tuesday night as the Whites were held to a goal-less draw by rivals Bath City.

Perrin, who was one of 1,478 spectators at the Roy McEnhill Stadium, said: "I have no idea how Luke Prince got man-of-the-match, but that does not concern me any more."

The Blues' boss was unsuccessful in another bid for a Mangotsfield player last week when he failed to prize Gary Warren away from the Cossham Street club.

The Mangotsfield board turned down two offers for their promising defender, who was voted player-of-the-year by the club's supporters last season.

Said Perrin: "Gary Warren is a young man who is both quick and strong. He has done very well in the matches we have played against him this season.

"There's no doubt he would have been a good addition to what is already a very strong squad.

"If Gary does not agree another deal with Mangotsfield United at the end of the season then we will be back in for him."

After the double disappointment Perrin was buoyed by news that former Cheltenham Town trainee Steve Cook had agreed to join his squad. Cook has played for both Team Bath and Cirencester Town this season and becomes the fifth member of the Blues' formidable strike-force.

Perrin said: "Steve is a promising player who has done ever so well in training, although it will be tough for him to break into the squad. "But if we don't win the title we will need a big squad for the play-offs, so Steve could play some part in the season yet," he said.