by Matthew Panting

Welling boss Andy Ford has revealed his frustration at failing to land a new striker.

Ford (pictured) is keen to bring in a target man to his goalshy squad, who have failed to score in their last four Blue Square South games.

But his attempts have so far failed to bring any fresh faces into Park View Road.

"We need a big target man desperately," said Ford. "I've got to go and try to find one.

"I've been around the league clubs looking but there doesn't seem to be one out there. They are always in short supply.

"Lheureux Menga was the shape and the size but he didn't have the quality."

Ford disclosed that he had been close to bringing in players but nothing has fallen into place just yet.

"We had one last week, Jason Hallett who came out of Chelmsford but has gone to Canvey," said Ford. "He wanted a contract and I wouldn't give him a contract. I could have got him if I had done that.

"I tried to get Wayne Andrews, who finished last season at Bristol Rovers, but he said he had better offer from somewhere else, although I haven't seen where he has gone.

"Isaiah Rankin has been training with us but he is nowhere near match-fit."

Ford is also set to let wantaway left-back Micky Haswell leave the Wings after just a handful of appearances.

"Micky wants to go but he is a contracted player," said Ford. "I don't really want players around me who are unhappy but I think he has been tapped up and I know the club.

"We'll wait and see how that develops. Yes, I could do with his money and that will bring us into budget.

"I'm happy with the squad we've got plus a big target man, he is hopefully the one who will save us."

Of the injured players, Graeme Andrews' groin injury is back-related and he will see a specialist on Friday, Ryan Johnson was due to have a scan on his deep-rooted dead leg on Tuesday, Jack Parkinson's plaster comes off his foot this weekend while Andy Sambrook (groin) is one week away.