WELLING manager Adrian Pennock has conceded defeat in his battle to keep top scorer Paul Booth.

The Wings have already turned down derisory bids of £2,000 from Cambridge City and Heybridge Swifts and Pennock is resigned to losing his wantaway striker.

Booth, who has been top scorer for Welling in every season since leaving Gravesend & Northfleet in 2002, wants to move closer to his Peterborough home.

Cambridge also had a £2,000 bid rejected in March for Booth and the Wings are believed to be looking for a fee nearer £10,000.

"I don’t want Paul to leave but he has been honest with me and the travelling is too much for him," said Pennock.

If Booth does depart, it will leave the Wings short of firepower despite the recent acquisitions of James Pinnock and Danny Kedwell. Striker Tommy Tyne has been told he can leave on a free transfer despite still having one year left on his contract.

Pennock also stressed that there has been no interest in defender James Smith and the club will not be selling midfielder Jamie Day for any price.

Out of contract midfielder Danny Slatter has two weeks to sign a new deal or the Wings will move on without him.