ANDY FORBES is the most prolific striker in non-league football - yet the man with goal-dust in his boots remains in the Wessex League.

The Winchester City hotshot has already blasted an incredible 74 league and cup goals from 52 games this season, and his remarkable record has helped Winchester to the Wessex League title and to the final of the FA Vase.

But the man who could be available for as little as £30,000 is no one-season wonder.

Indeed, since the start of the 1999/2000 season, Forbes has struck a mind-boggling 348 goals from 275 games.

This season isn't even his best campaign - in 1999/2000 he belted 88 goals in all competitions for Wessex League champions Andover!

Forbes, 24, has never played in a higher standard than the Wessex League - and the lack of cash in many clubs outside of the Premiership is the reason why.

Even though numerous clubs, including AFC Bournemouth, Yeovil and Forest Green, have enquired about him, nobody has made a cash offer.

"I would not even pick up the phone unless someone offered us £30,000 for Andy," said Winchester's director of football David Malone.

"If somebody offered us £50,000, that would be half the problem solved - the other half would be whether we could get Forbesy to do it (leave Winchester).

"There have been lots of enquiries but nobody has made us an offer we cannot refuse.

"In 2004, the Premiership clubs still conduct business in millions but, lower down the professional leagues, a lot of clubs don't have much money.

"Would any club be prepared to spend at least £30,000 on someone who is playing in the Wessex League?

"In a way, I'm not surprised Andy is still with us and I'm not disappointed - he's doing a great job for us.

"There is no question he could do a good job in the third division.

"He is an exceptional footballer - he has pace, two good feet, good control and is absolutely fantastic in the air, he's got everything.

"I would not swap him for anyone at AFC Bournemouth, including Wade Elliott - and Wade Elliott is a good player."

Saints boss Paul Sturrock would probably agree that there isn't much money in the lower reaches of the Nationwide League.

The most he ever spent on one player during his three years at Plymouth was £30,000 - on ex-Saints striker Micky Evans, a man who cost Dave Jones £750,000 when he signed him from the Devon club in 1997.

And the last time Bournemouth paid ANY money for a player was three years ago - and then it was only £12,000 for Derek Holmes.

The most Yeovil have ever paid for one player is the £20,000 they spent on Stevenage's Kirk Jackson in 2002.

As for Bristol Rovers, the £11,000 they spent on Barnet's Junior Agogo last summer is the only money they have splashed out in four years.

And Torquay have put together a promotion push in the Third Division having spent just £5,000 on Marcus Richardson since March 2000!

The two local clubs who have spent most in recent months are non-leaguers Salisbury - £15,000 on Craig Davis and £10,000 on his Bashley colleague Aaron Cook - and Eastleigh, who gave Bashley £15,000 for Paul Sales last summer.

A far cry from the cash cow which is today's Premiership - where some players wouldn't get out of bed for £30,000 a week.

Malone added: "If you gave me £15,000, where do I find another Andy Forbes?

"There's no one remotely of a similar standard we could get.

"It's like buying a house - the one you sell might have trebled in value, but so is the one you might be looking to buy."