MANAGER Adam Flint admitted that he was disappointed to lose striker Usman Adeniji, but he hopes that he’ll be able to keep the rest of his Witham Town squad together to keep building for next season.

Witham were held to a 1-1 draw at Ryman League division north strugglers Wroxham last weekend and will be hoping to take three points when they return home to face Soham Town Rangers on tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

However, one player who they are having to miss for the rest of the season is Adeniji, who left ahead of the trip to Wroxham to join promotion challengers AFC Hornchurch.

Flint said he was disappointed to see the prolific hitman go, but understood his reasons for departing.

“I’m disappointed to lose him as he has been a really good boy in the changing room,” said the Witham boss.

“I know he left with a heavy heart because he knows what we’re looking to build next season.

“He was gutted when he told me he was leaving, but he has gone to a top-three team that are 20 minutes away from where he lives. We wish him well, but the door isn’t shut to him.”

With 13 games remaining, Witham are looking set in mid-table, but Flint is looking ahead to his plans for next year and has repeated his call for players to demonstrate that they want to be a part of what he is looking to build.

He added: “I’m not worried about losing any others and I’m pretty sure that people will be staying on.

“Those I’ve talked to have said to me that they are happy and we are already looking towards next year.

“What people have to do, though, is show that they want to be here.

“I think there are 13 important games coming up.

“We’re looking to next season and at who we do and don’t want.

“People have to show us that they want to be part of the plans.

“Some are doing that.

“The target we were set at the start of the season was 44 points; we’re on 42 with 13 games left so we feel we should safe, but we just have to keep it going until the end of the season.

“We’ve asked the players to show us that they want to be here next year.

“We are just keeping on at them and up-building them.

“We have games in hand on some of the sides around us and you can easily shoot back up.”

Lance Akins is expected to return to face Soham after being missing for the game at Wroxham through illness and a slight Achilles problem, while Ryan Imbert may also be back and Flint said he hoped Ryan Charles may be fit to return after a hip flexor injury.