GARYN Preen’s seemingly inevitable transfer from Cinderford Town to Hungerford has left John Brough ‘disappointed’, as the Town manager admitted the affair has ‘left a sour taste in my mouth’.

Preen chose not to turn up for Cinderford’s 1-0 loss at Bashley in the FA Trophy Preliminary Round and Brough felt Southern League Premier Division side Hungerford may have got in touch with Preen illegally.

The Welsh forward could join the West Berkshire club as soon as this evening.

“Hungerford put in their approach for Garyn last Wednesday, but I spoke to him on Monday because the rumour mill was going around then,” the Town boss said.

“He asked me to see if I would waive the seven days but I said no with the massive cup game coming up on Saturday and he decided not to pick up my calls and told me wasn’t going to play as he felt it wasn’t in his best interests.

“They’ve obviously spoken to him to stop him from being cup tied even though they’re not allowed to speak to him until Wednesday night. I’m not going to do anything about it because that’s football and that’s the way some people work.

“I just wish he had turned up for the club. We had him under contract last year while he was seriously injured and the club paid him on time every week, and were flexible with the times he was here because he had to work.

“I don’t think he’s up to speed yet fitness wise after the injury still and I thought it would be in his best interest to stay for another year.

“Hungerford might be a better deal financially but will he play? Only he will know if he’s made the right decision but I am disappointed that after the way the club backed him last season he didn’t show on Saturday.

“I’ve had a club interested in him from higher than the Southern League Premier Division and he wasn’t interested. We gave him the option to speak to this club but he had made his mind up.

“He’s always said to me he wants to play at as high a level as he can and so I made some calls but he didn’t want to know.

“It’s a shame because it would have been his last game but it’s left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.”

Preen’s decision not to play on Saturday left Town with just Charlie Fletcher and Brough himself on the bench – and the former Cheltenham Town and Hereford United defender brought himself on up front to try and force a goal.

“With 15 minutes to go I couldn’t see anything else happening so I put myself on with Charlie Fletcher having already been on the pitch,” he said.

“You never know if the ball will drop and at least I thought I could upset a few people.

“Kyle Knott had been suspended too but he’ll be back this weekend.

“I’m in the process of putting in a couple of seven day approaches for players and hopefully we’ll get one in on loan for a month as well. By Thursday we may have one or two in place but we’ll have to wait and see.

Brough also gave updates on the injuries to defender Nick Rhodes, striker Ethan Moore and last year’s top goalscorer, George Lloyd.

Rhodes has recovered from a broken leg but is still a few weeks away from action while the club are waiting for the results of scans on Moore and Lloyd’s injuries.