Winchester City wideman Joe Briggs wanted by Wessex leaders Moneyfields

The Wessex champions elect lodged seven days’ notice of approach for the 27-year-old Portsmouth-based player – just in time to beat tomorrow's SWL transfer deadline.

Moneyfields’ interest in Briggs comes as no surprise to Winchester, who had half expected a fall-out after parting company with manager Ian Saunders last week.

Briggs was one of a handful of players who followed Saunders to City from his old club Petersfield Town.

Another, defender Olly Searle, has already left for Horndean.

Winchester’s director of football Dave Malone said: “No one else apart from Olly Searle has gone – and Olly was already on Wessex forms at Horndean.

“We’ve had an approach from Moneyfields for Joe Briggs which is valid on Friday, so they can sign him if he agrees to go because they put in notice of approach last week.”

Saunders took next to no time finding a new club, joining Wessex outfit AFC Portchester as assistant/coach to Graham Rix.

“I’m guessing the ex-Petersfield players might follow Sus (Saunders) to Portchester but, saying that, they’ve all turned up for training this week,” said Malone.

“The Wessex transfer deadline’s tomorrow, so it’s too late for this season in any case.

“If they do end up going, I’m sure we can have a scout around for new players.

“(New manager) Craig Davis has got contacts and knows a lot of players and we’ve already identified a few for next season.”

Winchester are also on the lookout for an assistant to work alongside former Fleet Town boss Davis.

“Craig is going to be player-manager and we’re talking to various people about coming in as his No2,” Malone confirmed.

“We’ve got a load of names on the list and we need someone with a bit of experience to run things from the sidelines when Craig’s playing.”

Davis’s reign got off to an unfortunate start last weekend when City crashed 3-0 at home to Barnstaple.

It was Winchester’s fourth straight Southern One South & West defeat, extending their winless league run to seven games, and Malone wants the rot to stop away at Paulton Rovers on Saturday.

Although it won’t make a great deal of difference to their mid-table league position, the Citizens badly need to get some momentum going in their last five games.

“Results don’t matter as such because we’re not going up or down, but we’re looking for a performance from the team and from individuals,” stressed Malone.

“It was almost like we were going through the motions but now, with a new manager coming in, we’ve got the rationale to look more closely at what we’re doing.”