GILLINGHAM manager Neale Cooper has turned down Darius Henderson's request to leave the club.

Captain Paul Smith and veteran defender Barry Ashby have recently left Preistfield and Cooper does not want to lose another player.

He said: "I’m very disappointed because he has impressed me in training and is a nice lad.

"He’s an asset and it would take a very big offer before we would consider letting him go.

"I have a small squad at the moment and I can’t afford to lose one. As far as I’m concerned he is going nowhere."

Last season's top scorer handed in a transfer request on Friday, saying: "It is nothing against the club, it’s for personal reasons."

He pulled out of Saturday’s game against Notts County with a bruised foot, having initially been selected to play.

Iwan Roberts came in as a replacement for Henderson at Meadow Lane, with the unsettled striker taking no part in the match.

Cooper said: "Darius came out for the warm-up but then went straight back in, he’s got a bruised foot and we put a bit of padding on and he came out and tried it, but there’s no point in taking any risks."