BARRY Blankley insists that Bashley's decision to sell striker Paul Sales does not signal a lack of ambition from the New Forest club.

What has never come to light since news broke of Sales's forthcoming five-figure transfer to Eastleigh, is that it was the 29-year-old himself who asked to go.

Blankley revealed: "I received a written transfer request from Paul saying that he needed a new challenge and, much as I'd like to have kept him, I think we're better off shaking hands and wishing each other all the best.

"I'm a very ambitious manager and as soon as I know that someone doesn't want to play for the club, then I feel it's better for everyone concerned that the player moves on.

"I want people here who want to play for me and the club. We didn't want to sell Paul and, until the deal goes through when he gets back from holiday, he is still a Bashley player. But I only want players around me who want to play for me and for Bashley - and everyone's got their price.

"The deal we've struck up with Eastleigh is good business from the club's point of view, particularly when you consider that Paul was injured for a lot of last season and played less than 40 per cent of the games.

"We've still got a lot of good, healthy competition for frontline places from players like Richard Gillespie, Stuart Hussey, Danny Gibbons and Dave Wakefield."

Earlier this week deposed skipper Darren Robson criticised Bashley for agreeing to sell Sales and for transfer-listing himself and fellow 33-year-old Andy Darnton.

In an ideal world, Blankley would have kept his entire squad together and added a couple of players, but he understands why the backwater New Forest villagers must keep a tight grip on their purse strings.

Bash finished a fighting fifth in the Dr Martens Eastern Division last season, but Blankley pointed out: "At our last home game we had 109 people watching us, which is a big difference to the Dorchesters and Salisburys of this world, who regularly get over 500 and to Eastleigh, who are averaging over 200. Getting such small gates has a big knock-on effect.

"I understand what Robbo was saying, but I don't think it's true that Bashley lack ambition. If it were, I wouldn't have stayed.

"We've still got plenty of quality in the squad and I maintain if it hadn't been for long-term injuries to key players like Mark Lisk and Hussey last season, we would have finished higher."

Bash have not taken up the option on Craig Anstey's contract, but will speak to him after his honeymoon. Negotiations are still on-going with out-of-contract midfielder Graeme Gee.