SALISBURY'S management team have had to put their move for goalkeeper Steve Staples on ice while the club continue negotiations with Ken Cunningham-Brown.

Confirmation that the Andover supremo is bidding to take over team affairs at the Wiltshire club has cast an air of uncertainty around Old Sarum and left existing managers Taffy Richardson and Tommy Killick powerless to start signing players until they are sure of their own futures.

Assistant boss Killick said: "I'm aware that there are on-going talks between Mark Groves (Salisbury's director of operations) and representatives of our chairman Ray McEnhill concerning the approach from Ken Cunningham-Brown, but it's all very sensitive at the moment.

"Taffy and I just hope we will be allowed to continue. We've got certain things in place with regard to players but, unfortunately, it's all on hold at the moment.

"Steve Staples has agreed to join us, but I've had to phone him and tell him the situation. It's frustrating because this is the most crucial time for signing players and even if we're given the green light in a couple of weeks' time, we'll still be behind the game. It's a difficult situation."

Former Brockenhurst goalkeeper Staples only recently signed registration forms for Lymington & New Milton but was relucantant to be pinned down to a contract at Fawcett's Field.

Stewart Kearn, Linnets' established first-choice keeper, is still mulling over new terms and, in the meantime, player-manager Graham Kemp has nipped in to sign former Poole Town keeper Paul Spillane on contract.

Salisbury are searching for cover for regular number one James Bittner, who signed non-contract forms for AFC Bournemouth last season and is hoping to be taken on permanently by the Cherries.

Whites have just been relegated from the Dr Martens Premier Division and Killick said: "Even if Bournemouth didn't materialise, James wants to play at a higher level. Much as we'd love to keep him, he shouldn't be playing in the Eastern or Western Division next season - he's better than that!"

Weymouth, now managed by former Salisbury boss Geoff Butler, have enquired after Whites' tenacious wing-back Tyronne Bowers, but Killick said: "We're not interested in selling."

Wessex outfit Fareham Town are expected to unveil a new manager next week. The closing date for applications is Friday. Chairman Bob Ralls has confirmed that former Saints and Pompey defender Jon Gittens, who finished last season as caretaker boss, is among the front-runners.