BOSS Adie Arnold has urged the Hampshire FA to swiftly resolve the future of three Christchurch players embroiled in an alleged illegal registration storm with Bashley.

Arnold has been advised not to play Husam Aurow, Ryan Brading and Richard Morse while the county association investigates Bash’s complaint over their signings.

When Andy Darnton quit as joint-manager of Bash in October and took up a coaching position at Priory, defender Jamie Thoroughgood quickly followed.

Registration rules state that when a club signs a non-contract player, they must wait 28 days before going back for another – on a full transfer or dual registration – unless both sanction the move.

Christchurch subsequently registered the trio with Morse starting three matches, Brading two and Aurow appearing from the bench once but the club picked up no points from the matches they played.

Arnold insisted the players had “acted in good faith” and in the belief that they were surplus to requirements at Bash when they approached him over a switch to Hurn Bridge.

And with the Christchurch hierarchy opting for caution while their fate is decided, a frustrated Arnold is adamant the players are being made to suffer unnecessarily.

“We are in limbo,” he said. “It has been going on for a while and we are desperate to get the lads playing. They are the ones suffering.

"They approached us to come here. As far as they were concerned, they had left Bashley. They had not featured for two or three games and were not a part of their plans.

“I wanted to give them an opportunity and I will when this is all sorted out. That is all I am interested in and I do not see what all of this achieves.

"As a manager, I would not stop lads from playing, I do not see the point.

“Perhaps it is a bit of naivety on my part but I do not understand the fuss when Bashley did not want the players.

“Football careers are short and managers want players to play, that’s why we are involved in the game, surely?

“I do not want a fall-out with Bashley, we had a pre-season game there and hopefully we will again in the future.

“It is all very frustrating. It has been going on for a month and nobody seems to know how long it will take to sort out.”

Arnold, who says he is unaware whether the players are formally suspended, added: “The only information I have is that they cannot play.”

At the time of going to press, the Echo had not received a response from the Hampshire FA and was unable to contact Bash chair Angela Speechley-Price.