Manager Paul Piggott admitted to dismay after Luke Medley quit Chatham to join Cray Wanderers.

The striker, the club’s top scorer with 15 goals, snubbed approaches from Ryman League, Premier Division Folkestone, as well as Faversham and Walton Casuals, before signing on at Hayes Lane this week.

Piggott admitted: “We didn’t want him to go but he felt he was better off at another club. It’s disappointing and a big blow.

“He’s our leading goalscorer and the timing’s not great but a player who doesn’t want to be at the club is no good to me.

“It’s time to move on. We won’t beat ourselves up, we wish him well.

“It wasn’t an area I was looking at, as I thought we were all right for goalscorers before this but the million dollar question is how do I replace him and his goals?

“I will search high and low, teams from higher levels and one or even two below. I have worked in the Invicta and Kent Leagues and there are quality players who score goals there."

Chatham are in the relegation zone, five points adrift of Guernsey, although their four-match losing run did end with Saturday’s 4-4 draw against Chipstead.

Piggott added: “We know we need points. We have to take the positives and that is that we didn’t lose.”

Chats are away to play-off-chasing Carshalton on Saturday in Ryman League, Division 1 South.

They then host Faversham on Monday (7.45pm). Jordan Gallagher and defender Ejiro Okosieme (groin) are set to miss both games.