MARK Barker is easily Brockenhurst's longest-serving player – and also the most wanted.
Having resisted a couple of advances from Salisbury last term, the Millbrook-based wing wizard has just turned them down again.
Barker also got an invitation to trial for Poole Town in last week’s friendly at Eastleigh, but again he declined.
Both interested clubs have gone up a league this season – Salisbury into the Southern One South & West and Tom Killick's Poole to the heady heights of the Vanarama National League South.
But it seems that the player nicknamed ‘Sparky’ only has eyes for Grigg Lane.
“Salisbury came back in for Mark with an informal approach by (director of football) Mick Jenkins asking if his situation had changed," reported Brock boss Pat McManus.
“Sparky was also invited to play for Poole against Eastleigh, but he declined that too in favour of remaining a Badger. He’s loyal!".
The biggest shining light of pre-season so far has been Brock’s other talented wideman, Will Tickle, who recently returned to Grigg Lane from Sydenhams Premier rivals Lymington Town.
“Will’s terrorised everyone he's come up against,” said the boss, who is licking his lips at the prospect of playing Barker one side, Tickle the other and Ryan Long through the middle.
“Up to now we haven’t been able to play the three of them together," said McManus. "Ryan's been working and we had to play Mark at left-back against Winchester on Saturday because we had a couple of defenders away at weddings."
Brock this evening (Tuesday, 7.45pm) host AFC Totton in a friendly.
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