SOUTHERN LEAGUE

DARREN Perrin says it's "almost certain" another player will leave Chippenham next week after Danny Maye was shown the exit door.

The Bluebirds boss will be forced to axe a fifth member of his squad due to budget cuts announced by the board of directors last week.

Nick Stanley, Matt Rawlins and Steve Jenkins have already left Hardenhuish Park since the start of the season, with left-winger Maye the latest to fly the nest.

Perrin believes the cutbacks will make life harder for Chippenham in the short term but says he understands the decision.

"It doesn't make it any easier for me. In fact it makes my job very difficult," he said.

"I would be happy to work with the squad as it now, but it's almost certain another player will have to leave next week.

"But I've got to abide by the decisions taken by the board. They have the best interests of the football club at heart.

"I've said it before, but this club will not spend silly money chasing a dream. We need to think about the long-term future."

Perrin revealed he had been approached by several players in recent weeks who were looking to join the club, but the Chippenham chief was forced to turn them away.

He said: "I'm certainly not in a position to think about sign anybody else at the moment.

"It's a shame because there have been a few players wanting to join us, one or two of whom would have pleased our supporters."

Chairman Sandie Webb defended the Chippenham board's decision to slash Perrin's wage bill.

She said: "As in any business, you have to sit down every few months and see what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong.

"It's not good for any player to be sat on the bench every week because they are not fulfiling their full potential.

"We will sit down with Darren like one big family and work out what's best for Chippenham Town."

Perrin thanked midfielder Maye for asking for his contract to be torn up in the wake of his departure.

The former Team Bath man had seven months to run on his current deal and could have spent the rest of the season collecting money from the bench.

Perrin said: "You've got to take your hat off to Danny. He could easily have stuck around and picked up his money, but he wants regular first team football.

"I didn't see that happening here at Chippenham and in the end the decision was amicable. He leaves with our best wishes."

Maye is on the look out for a new club after spending just four months at Chippenham.

The 24-year-old scored on his debut in the 5-1 thrashing of Northwood in September but struggled to hold down a place after that.

He said: "I've already played three years at Southern League level with Team Bath and I need to be playing week-in, week-out.

"When the team is losing games and you're sat on the bench it makes you wonder. In the end it was quite an easy decision to leave.

"There's no hard feelings and I want to wish Darren and the lads the best of luck for the season."