SWINDON Supermarine manager Dave Webb admits he is finding it difficult to fill the void left by star strikers Ashley Edenborough and Josh Parsons.

The Webb’s Wood Stadium boss held talks with Gloucester City striker Will Morford about a possible switch to South Marston, however, the hitman has opted to remain and fight for his place in the Conference North side.

And with big holes to fill, both Edenborough, who joined league rivals Evesham United earlier this month, and Parsons, who returned to Hungerford Town, netted 29 goals.

“We are a club with ambition and you can see that with the talks that we had with Will Morford,” Webb said. “But you can understand a player who wants to play at the best level they can.

“But it is difficult to find someone with the structure and budget we have got.

“They now know that we are after a striker and suddenly the price is going up, they think and belief that they are now worth more.”

Webb says that he hopes to have a new striker in before the first pre-season friendly against Swindon Town on July 12.

“I’m in talks with a young talented striker, but he will be a work in progress and it will be a big ask for him to come in and score 25-30 goals at this level in his first season,” Webb said.

“There will be players available in July when they realise that they are not going to be first choice at the club that they are already at.

“Maybe we go down the route and speaking to Swindon (Town) to see if they have someone they want to gain some first team experience - we’ve done it before.”

Supermarine have also confirmed the re-signing of midfielder Harry Etheridge for the new campaign.