Witham Town will travel to play Basildon United in the Essex Senior League tomorrow without three of their most influential players.

James Robinson, Richard Manning and goalkeeper Rhys Madden have all joined Ryman League division one north side Maldon and Tiptree.

Town boss Danny Greaves is leaving Spa Road at the end of the season.

And he believes the player departures reflect his own anxieties about the future direction of the club.

Greaves had previously expressed his concern about Witham’s support for their first team and in particular, their lack of training facilities.

Greaves said: “My concern was that some of the players would leave.

“I think a lot of the players felt let down that the club didn’t want to move in the same direction.

“They now have a chance to prove between now and the end of the season that they’re good enough to play at a higher level.

“You can’t stop players leaving at this level if they don’t have contracts.

“All three players rang me to tell me and I think if I had asked them to stay they would have done.

“But I didn’t want to stand in their way.

“It’s disappointing that Witham have lost these players but that’s the gamble that the club have taken.

“I hope that the club carries on moving forward and there’s no reason why they can’t but they have to get behind their new manager and the players.”