Bognor Regis Town v Welling United

WELLING manager Adrian Pennock paid a glowing tribute to former Wings skipper Lew Watts ahead of Saturday's trip to Bognor Regis Town.

Watts, 31, has joined Tonbridge Angels after failing to hold down a regular first-team place at Park View Road this season. But the defender leaves with Pennock's best wishes, and the Wings boss was sorry to see him depart.

Pennock said: "We had a team meeting after the Erith & Belvedere game and I told all the lads that Lew was leaving to joining Tonbridge.

"I can't speak highly enough of Lew, he has been brilliant and not missed one training session all season. He wanted first-team football and he said it was a hard decision to make.

"During his time at Welling he has been in some struggling sides but this is a decent team at the moment and that made his decision harder.

"He goes with our best wishes and he has been like an old pro to manage to be honest."

The Wings could go top at Bognor but face a hard task against a side Pennock regards as the best footballing team in Conference South.

Midfielder Mark Saunders, who returned to the side and scored in the 5-0 London Senior Cup win over Erith & Belvedere in midweek, will keep his place in midfield.

Steve Perkins (back) is expected to be fit.