CASH-STRAPPED Bashley Football Club have lost the services of their master marksman James Taylor - and they won't be receiving a single penny for him.

This season's 33-goal Dr Martens League Southern Division leading scorer, valued at £15,000 by the New Forest club, is now a free agent after the FA cancelled his two-year contract because Bashley had breached its terms.

The FA ruled that Bashley had broken the terms of the contract by making irregular payments to Taylor following his official protest to Lancaster Gate at the end of the current season.

"Many other people at the club are owed a lot of money," said Taylor. "The club hadn't paid me up at the end of the season and nothing was said at the presentation evening a week later so I sought advice on the matter.

"Recorded delivery letters were sent to the League, the FA and the club yet Bashley twice refused to sign for theirs. It has now cost them dearly."

Acting Bashley chairman Gary Parsons had rung Taylor the night before manager Jimmy Case resigned ten days ago to tell him that he was going to be sold and that it was in his and the club's best interest.

"Despite what has happened recently I have enjoyed my three years at the club. I was loyal and always did my best and had things been handled differently then maybe I would have stayed," added Taylor.

Yet Bashley are adamant that they have heard nothing on the matter, with chairman Parsons saying: "It's all news to me. I can assure you that we have had no notification concerning James Taylor whatsoever.

"James Taylor can say what he likes, as far as I am concerned he is still on contract at this club."

See today's Daily Echo for more sports news and Hampshire's latest performance in the PPP County Cricket Championship.

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