VERWOOD Town manager Adie Arnold insisted he would welcome striker Mike Haskell back with open arms – as soon as he is ready to return.

Arnold confirmed that prolific front man Haskell, who bagged 15 goals during Town’s maiden Wessex Premier campaign last season, would be taking a break from football for the foreseeable future.

The decision provides the Potterne Park chief, whose side has been beset by injury and unavailability, with another headache, but a philosophical Arnold said he understood Haskell’s reasons.

“If you get up on a Saturday morning and don’t look forward to the game then it is time to take a step back,” said Arnold.

“Mike said the buzz had gone for him and I think he has fallen out of love with the game a little bit. He has a baby on the way and I think spending time with his family was a big factor in his decision.

“It’s important to give him some space because once he’s ready to come back he knows he only has to pick up the phone.

“He might keep up his fitness by playing local football but he has told me he won’t play for any other Wessex side.”

Meanwhile, Arnold bemoaned the Potters’ luck after they had hit woodwork twice in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Alresford.

Efforts from Dan Munday and Matt Oldring found the frame of the goal but Steve Brown’s 16th-minute strike proved decisive.

Arnold added: “We played well but we’re in a bit of a rut. We can’t seem to buy a win.”

Potters: Sim, Evans, Murray, Oldring, Kelly, Dyer, N Saxby, Gajic, Munday Dan, Lovell, Homer (Munday Dar, 80). Unused subs: Kimber, D Saxby, Gilham, Darnton.

Bashley suffered a sixth straight defeat as leaders Hemel Hempstead battled back from a goal down to beat the Southern Premier’s backmarkers 4-1.

Beleaguered boss Stewart Kearn, who saw recently re-signed Dave Allen depart for Weymouth this week, confirmed he is in the market for two unnamed midfielders ahead of Saturday’s trip to Hinckley.

Bash: Collins, Boultwood (Morris, 56), Flint, Richardson, Middleton, Stephenson, Casey, Roberts, Sills, Odam, Knight (Brookes, 87). Unused subs: Porter, Kearn.