LONG-SERVING Francis Duku parted company with Gravesend this week by mutual agreement.

The big centre-back never fully recovered after breaking a leg in a pre-season friendly at Weymouth two years ago. He suffered more bad luck last season when he broke the other leg in a car crash.

He joined the Fleet in August, 2000 from Dulwich Hamlet having started his career with Reading before going on to play for Maidenhead and Crawley, where he had two spells.

Duku and manager Andy Ford had reached an agreement whereby a decision regarding the player’s future would be made on August 14. That was brought forward as the Fleet boss felt he was unable to offer him a contract while the player found himself in demand from a couple of clubs.

“Francis is one of my longest-serving players and I’m sorry to see him go but I had to respect the fact that he was wanted elsewhere and needed to get on with his life,” said Ford.

“We thank him for his service to the club and wish him well.”

The Fleet boss has decided against signing striker Michael Powers, who scored 30 goals in the Go Travel Kent League last season.

He played in Monday’s 3-2 friendly win at Ashford.

Carl Dennis-Wilson, a striker with another Kent League club, VCD, who interested the Fleet, has gone to South Wales club Newport. A move to sign a third striker, Margate’s Rocky Baptiste, has fallen through over a failure to agree terms.