MANAGER Ollie Cherrett insists top scorer Luke Stone is “100 per cent committed” to remaining at Christchurch.

The Hurn Bridge hotshot rattled home 27 goals in 26 appearances last season while also dual-registered with big-spending Dorset Premier League champions Shaftesbury.

With both clubs now in Sydenhams Wessex One, the rumour mill had started to churn over Stone’s future but Cherrett was quick to allay any Priory fears.

Cherrett told the Daily Echo: “Luke is 100 per cent committed. He likes playing for us, enjoys being part of this squad and lives very close.

“His granddad comes to watch every week and that’s a big part of it too. He is happy and wants to enjoy his football above all else.

“People keep saying Luke could do this, that or the other but he played in the Dorset Premier for four seasons, proved himself as the top striker and then stepped up to Wessex One.

“Now, he wants to win the golden boot at this level and get us back to the Premier Division before taking on the next level, hopefully with us.

“The rumours have not just been about Shaftesbury. I heard he would be off to Wimborne, Bemerton or even Poole but he has agreed to stay with us.”