NEVILLE Roach has revealed he turned down a move to Salisbury City because of his affection for Basingstoke Town and his burning desire to shoot the club back into the Nationwide South play-offs.

The 24-year-old goal ace was recently the subject of two bids by the relegation-threatened Ryman Premier outfit.

City boss Nick Holmes targeted Roach as the man to help them secure their league status and made a written bid for his services.

While that was dismissed out of hand by Ernie Howe, Salisbury - who are now being backed by wealthy David Malone - came back with a £7,500 bid and the Town manager agreed to sell his leading goalscorer.

Howe admitted: "The second offer was a very good one and we looked at a number of factors before reluctantly deciding to accept it.

"We do need the money and there was no question in my mind that Roachy was going. He's out of contract in two months, so it was a bit like someone coming in and offering to buy your car for a very good price when there's only two months of its MOT left."

Roach subsequently began talks with Holmes about the switch - but finally rejected Salisbury's overtures.

Explaining why, Roach told The Gazette: "I love playing for Basingstoke Town and don't want to leave. I still think we can make the play-offs and I want to score the goals that will get us back up there.

"Salisbury did offer me good money to go there but I don't want to drop down a division and go to a relegation dogfight.

"There's also a good chance they might be in Ryman One next season, whereas we're still in with a chance of the play-offs and possible promotion."

It is the second time in as many years that Roach has rejected the chance to earn more money to instead stay at the Camrose. Eastleigh tried and failed to get him in 2003.

Despite accepting the bid for pragmatic reasons, Howe - who admitted "it was a delicate situation" - said he was pleased Roach had decided to stay.

Howe said: "Goalscorers are hard to come by and we know what Roachy can bring to the side. He showed us that when he scored his hat-trick against St Albans the very next day after speaking with Salisbury."

And when asked if the fact Howe agreed to sell him perhaps undermines his position as a Town player, Roach dismissed the notion.

He shrugged: "It's part of football and I know it doesn't mean Ernie thinks any less of me as a player, or that I'm not part of his plans for next season.

"It was a good offer from his point of view as a manager, but it doesn't weigh on my mind. All I can do now is forget about it and look at continuing to score goals for Basingstoke."

Roach confirmed that he and Howe had since talked about a new contract. He said: "Hopefully, we can sort something out, but I obviously have to keep playing well to earn a new deal, as do other players."

Howe added: "When Roachy told me that he wanted to stay, that's when the subject of a new deal came up. He indicated he was willing to stay here next season for the same money he is on now.

"That's good news, because I cannot deny that was a factor when we agreed to sell him. We still need to keep things tight, but it's good a key member of my team is committed to playing for Basingstoke Town next season."

Roach scored the equaliser in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Bognor Regis. His 49th-minute goal was his fourth in two games.

"I feel I'm getting back to my best form and that we should have got a point from the game," said Roach. "It makes next week's match against Lewes very important because we need to get some more points to get us back in the play-off chase."