GOALKEEPER Jamie Turner still has a long-term future at Welling, player-manager Neil Smith insisted this week.

Turner was dropped for last Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Bath after Smith signed Brentford keeper Clark Masters on an initial one-month loan deal.

But Smith maintained that Turner is part of his plans.

“Jamie still has a future at the club,” stated Smith. “I’ve spoken to him and he is up for the fight.

“I think I will get more out of him now, it was something that I had to do as I wanted to get competition in all places of the team.

“He is not the scapegoat. I had my reasons for doing it and I explained them to Jamie.

“Our results have not been his fault – we win as a team and we lose as a team.”

Smith has released midfielders Seb Schoburgh and Adam Bernard but remains in the market for further additions with a striker still high on his priority list.

“I’ve given everyone a chance and now I’m looking for players to help kick us on,” he stated.

“I still think I need another forward who can offer us something different but I’m not going to bring some in for the sake of it – they need to be better than what we have got.”