Winchester City have parted company with ex-Saint David Piper as the countdown begins to their first ever Wessex League season.

Piper, who used to have his boots cleaned by England star Wayne Bridge at The Dell, is believed to be heading for Ryman Premier new boys Bognor Regis Town.

Despite amassing more than 200 Nationwide Conference games with Yeovil and Woking, 25-year-old Piper, who signed for City in February, failed to convince the Hampshire League champions he was worth breaking the bank for.

Winchester's director of football David Malone said: "David would like to have stayed with us and we'd like to have kept him because he's a really nice guy, but there was little difference between him and the players we'd already got and we were not in a position to offer him the money he thinks he's worth.

"He did well here, but he didn't pull up any trees and I don't blame him one bit for leaving."

One factor that went against Piper was the arrival of former Andover player Shaun Dyke towards the end of last season. Also right-sided, Dyke shone in a handful of appearances for the Abbots Barton club and has been rewarded with a deal for 2003/4.

With City looking for a quick passage through to the Southern League, Dyke boasts exactly the right credentials having won the Wessex title twice with Andover in 2000/1 and 2001/2.

Malone commented: "Shaun's a quality footballer with fantastic ability."

Dyke has been joined on City's books by former AFC Bournemouth and Weymouth star Michael Dean.

The 25-year-old midfielder, who made 48 first-team appearances at Dean Court, spent a brief spell with Wessex champions Eastleigh last term, but was released before the end of the season.

City know Dean more by reputation than experience, but Malone said: "He's a quality player who's not costing a lot of money, so there's little risk involved. He knows our midfielder Danny Smith well because they played together at Bournemouth."

Striker Stuart Findlay, meanwhile, has joined Wessex rivals Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Findlay, who scored his 150th Winchester goal in the last game of the season, will be linking up with former City boss Mark Smith, now right-hand man to Harlequins boss Steve Slade.