Winchester CITY'S two-year quest to win the FA Vase came to a glorious conclusion yesterday with victory over last season's beaten finalists AFC Sudbury.

But as their ecstactic supporters swaggered triumphantly away from Birmingham City's headquarters at St Andrews, the big question on everyone's lips was how damaging Winchester's failure to get their humble Abbotts Barton ground up to scratch will turn out to be.

Having proved themselves as the country's best on their rung of the non-league ladder, Neil Hards and his men are desperate to strut their stuff at a higher level.

But that opportunity has been denied them because their Denplan City Ground did not meet the Southern League ground grading requirements by the April 1 deadline.

Nothing was said in the build-up to the Vase final to suggest Winchester's brightest young stars will move on.

But captain Danny Smith, who is out of contract this summer, admitted afterwards that he is one of many City players itching to find a higher showcase for his skills.

Following his release from AFC Bournemouth two summers ago, the 21-year-old raised eyebrows by dropping into the Hampshire League with City, but it was all part of a two-year plan to achieve Southern League football.

On the park, that plan has worked like a dream, but off it, it's become the stuff of nightmares.

Smith said: "Two years ago we were told that if we won two leagues then we would go up. We've done that, but it hasn't happened, so who knows what will happen now.

"We've been there and done it in the Wessex League and the whole team wants to go up - it's not just me.

"We're a young side who want to player higher. If I move, I'd want to go a couple of leagues above where we are now, but I'm under 24, so if someone wants me they will have to pay a fee."

Manager Hards shares in his players' frustration. Having achieved a Wessex League, League Cup and Vase treble after only 17 months in his first managerial post, the 42-year-old former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper is galled by the prospect of spending another season in the Wessex ranks.

What makes it worse is that a new Conference 2 is being introduced next season, nudging the Wessex League a step further down the pyramid.

"We've effectively been relegated," said Hards. "We've won the league but we're a stage further from where we want to be.

"I'm not happy to play in the Wessex League next season - none of us are. These players need to go on and play in a better standard of football."

Quizzed about his own future and that of his squad, Hards said: "I'll sit and talk to the players and see how they feel. We're in it as a group. We'll have a chat and make a decision after that.

"All the success we've had comes purely and simply from teamwork. We've got a group of lads here who'd run to the end of the earth for me and for each other.

"We've got a good family spirit here and great bonding in the squad. I've never known anything like it at any club I've been at.

"We've got younger players here who will hopefully go on to bigger and better stages.

"Let's hope what they've experienced today will give them the impetus to progress to a higher grade of football than we play in. It's only natural they should want to go on."

City's Carlsberg man-of-the-match Shaun Dyke admitted: "I'd rather have gone up a league than do most of the stuff we've done this season. Promotion was our main aim and I know that a few teams have been in for some of our players. We'll have to wait and see what will happen, but I'd love to stay because we've got a brilliant team spirit.

"It would be brilliant if we could all stay together, but I know a few of the lads are gutted because we're not going up."

For more on Winchester City's historic win go to the More News section of 'This is Southampton'.