Chatham Town manager Alex O’Brien has spoken about his frustration over the departure of Lee Barnett to Thamesmead Town.

Barnett, pictured, made his debut for Mead in their 2-0 win at Brentwood on Saturday, having informed O’Brien last week that he was leaving the Chats because he needed a fresh challenge.

But O’Brien admitted: "I feel a bit aggrieved because we have shown a lot of patience with Lee over his injury problems this season.

"He had missed most of the season because of his ankle injury and was rarely able to do a full training session. I think the final nail in the coffin was when we told him that he would have to take a minor pay cut along with the rest of the players."

Ironically, Barnett had to come off against Brentwood because of injury, while O’Brien for his part must refocus on how to cure the Chats’ goalscoring problems having just lost one of his most experienced strikers.

The problem reared its ugly head again in last Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Dulwich Hamlet.

O’Brien admitted: "It all comes down to us taking more of the chances we create because we are playing well."

Chatham are away to Chipstead on Saturday and O’Brien is likely to give a debut at some stage to new young striker, Jack Pullen, who has joined the club on loan from the Dartford FC Academy side.