AFC Totton manager Barry Blankley was not best pleased to hear that midfielder Clive Ventham had been signed as emergency cover by Dr Martens outfit Bashley.

It's not that Blankley objects to doing his old club a favour, but he would prefer to have been told by Bash themselves rather than read about it the paper.

Ventham goes back a long way with Blankley's Totton predecessor John Robson, now the manager of Bashley. The midfielder skippered Alton Town to the Hampshire League title under Robson's leadership and it was the Wearsider who took him to Testwood Park during the summer.

He is the fourth of the Stags' ex-Alton contingent to sign for Bash this season, following on from Mark Clothier, Neil Morant and Martin Whiddett, who is now back with Totton. Yet, according to Blankley, the first he got to hear about it was when his players turned up for Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Thatcham.

He said: "All the lads came in saying another player had signed for Bashley and I had no idea who they were talking about. I'd had no notice of approach from Bashley, no phone call, nothing. It's a bit disappointing to be honest.

"I could report them for an illegal approach, but I won't because it's not my style, but I would have thought they'd have had the common decency to put in a quick phone call.

"I would have waived the seven days, no problem. We waived it for Mark Clothier and we let them speak to Whidds before the seven days were up. If they'd spoken to me, I'd have said 'fine', but I don't expect to read in the paper that one of my players has signed for another team.

"Clive said he was waiting to hear back from Robbo (John Robson) that the registration had gone through before telling me."

Totton will be without midfield maestro Jimmy Anderson for tonight's Sydenhams Wessex League trip to Andover.

Having missed huge chunks of the season through work and personal commitments, Anderson is now ruled out by damaged shoulder ligaments. He has been advised not to play for a couple of weeks, but may fight through the pain barrier for Saturday's trip to title-chasing Winchester City.

Vase finalists Winchester entertain Christchurch tonight looking to flush Saturday's 1-0 defeat at AFC Newbury out of their systems.

They will be short of strength on the left-hand side with Matthew Bicknell and Liam Green both injured.

"We've got all sorts of people with knocks and niggles, which is why we've made three new signings" said director of football David Malone.

Winchester have been boosted by news that veteran midfielder Gary Green will be eligible for the FA Vase final. He has been handed a 35-day ban for his semi-final dismissal at Bideford, but it will not affect the May 16 final because it is beyond the end of the official season.