WINCHESTER City's FA Vase-winning skipper Danny Smith is holding fire on a possible move to Dorchester Town because he wants to play in the Conference National.

Magpies boss Mark Morris says his Conference South new boys will pay City whatever fee is fixed by an FA tribunal for the out-of-contract midfielder, pictured above.

But the 21-year-old former AFC Bournemouth midfielder/defender has other irons in the fire with Conference National duo Aldershot and Farnborough Town

Smith, a product of the Bashley youth set-up, confirmed: "Mark Morris asked me if I was interested in joining Dorchester and I said I would be if other things didn't go to plan, but I'm looking to play in the Conference."

Smith also had an offer of trials with Exeter City last month after writing a letter to the Grecians but, for the moment, his best bet of top-grade Conference football appears to lie in north Hampshire.

He has been training with Farnborough Town and has been invited for a week's trial at Aldershot after impressing in last week's senior team trial session with the Shots.

Smith explained: "I played with a mixture of youngsters and trialists and thought I did ok. Their manager, Terry Brown, seemed quite interested and asked if I'd go back for a week or so, starting on Monday (July 5).

"I'm going to take that opportunity, but I'm also due to have another chat about a possible contract with Farnborough. Both clubs understand that I've got to keep my options open.

"I spoke to Exeter about a month ago and the manager (Eamonn Dolan) asked me to go down for trials, but he was going on holiday and then I went away for a week and we've lost touch. I've tried ringing his mobile but with no luck."

Morris, who is also interested in enticing Bashley's Mark Lisk back to the Avenue Stadium, said earlier this week: "Danny knows what we are prepared to offer him and I am still hopeful he will agree to join us. But he has also been offered a trial at Exeter and I understand Aldershot have expressed an interest in him, so we will just have to wait and see what he decides to do."