Eastleigh have failed in their bid to woo 24-year-old former Reading striker Neville Roach away from Basingstoke Town.

Roach, who finished fourth highest scorer in the Ryman Premier Division with 22 goals last season, was high on the wanted list of Ten Acres boss Paul Doswell, who is priming the Wessex champions for their first ever venture into the Southern League.

But, despite being made a tempting offer to move down south, Roach has thrilled his growing Basingstoke fan club by signing a two-year contract at the Camrose Ground.

Pete Peters, Stoke's assistant boss, could barely conceal his delight that the club's fans' player-of-the-season was staying put.

He said: "Everyone's taken to Neville up here and we're all made up that he is staying. No way could we have matched what Eastleigh were offering but we emphasised to Neville that he would be going down a league and, being Reading-based, I couldn't see him travelling all the way to Eastleigh and then shooting off to somewhere like King's Lynn.

"Also, he's got some very good friends here like Neville Stamp and Ricky Allaway, who were with him at Reading, and they all travel to Basingstoke together.

"It shows terrific loyalty by Neville that he turned down a lucrative offer to go elsewhere."

As an added boost, Stoke keeper Scott Tarr - recognised as one of the best in the Ryman ranks - has also signed a two-year contract, despite interest from St Alban's City.

Defenders Stamp and Allaway have also signed on again but ex-Saints midfielder Kevin Gibbens - another name linked with Eastleigh - has yet to put pen to paper.