WINCHESTER City’s 29-goal hotshot Craig Feeney is attracting fresh interest from Weymouth.

The Terras lodged notice of approach for the former Totton & Eling and AFC Totton striker earlier this month, but director of football Dave Malone is pretty confident City’s goal-hungry No9 will be staying put.

Weymouth’s interest in Feeney stretches back to his Totton & Eling days of 2012 when he impressed against them in a 2-2 FA Cup draw at Millers Park. The Southern Premier outfit have kept tabs on him ever since.

“I think they’ve had two or three attempts at signing Craig over the years but, let’s face it, Weymouth is a long way to travel and I don’t envisage him going,” said Malone.

“I spoke to (Weymouth boss) Jason Matthews and I spoke to Craig Feeney and, as far as I’m aware, he’s happy where he is.”

While Malone has no doubt that, on current form, Feeney could develop into a decent Southern Premier player, he believes he needs to prove himself over a more sustained period in the Southern One South & West.

“It’s only in the last the three or four months that Craig's come to be the player he is, so let’s not get too excited too soon,” he cautioned.

“There’s an argument to say that in a half-decent side he should be scoring the number of goals he is, so let’s see if he gets another 15 or 20 first before we get carried away.

“What I would say is that Craig has done really well. He’s a changed player and he’s learned a hell of a lot this season, a lot of it self-taught.

“When he plays through the middle, he’s a real threat all of the time.”

Winchester are still in dialogue with their former goal machine Warren Bentley who is trying to get away from troubled National League South outfit Gosport Borough.

“I’m not sure what the latest is on Warren, but I know he’s spoken to several clubs at Conference South level,” said Malone.

Eighth-placed City entertain ninth-placed Bideford on Saturday needing a win to maintain any hope of reaching the play-offs.

They are eight points behind fifth-placed Taunton Town, who demolished Larkhall Athletic 10-2 on Tuesday.

Adam Tomasso (ankle) and Taz Roberts (pelvis) are both struggling with injury. Goalkeeper Brendan Norris did the warm-up prior to City’s 1-0 Hampshire Senior Cup win at Sholing on Tuesday as he makes his way back from a hip problem.

Taunton's landslide midweek victory dropped Steve Claridge's Salisbury to sixth.

The Whites may fancy a goal feast of their own on Saturday at home to rock-bottom Bridgwater Town who have conceded 71 times this term.