FECKENHAM may be about to lose their star player but at least they have retained the services of manager Lee Adams.
Adams, who has guided the side to a run of 12 wins in their last 14 matches, was short-listed for the manager's vacancy at Alliance side Stratford Town as joint manager with veteran player Steve Fergusson, who had applied for both of them without telling Adams.
The Stratford board opted for former Redditch United player Dennis Mulholland with another former Red - Ian Mitchell - as player-coach, but Adams said he would have been loath to leave the Millers, despite the impending departure of teenage ace Mark Hands.
"It would have been a big decision if we had been offered the job," said Adams, "I wasn't 100 per cent sure I would have gone because I've done half a job at Feckenham and I haven't finished yet.
"I've loved my time here and I will be at Feckenham for the foreseeable future."
But Adams expects to lose 19-year-old skipper Hands after seven-day approaches from Alliance neighbours Studley and Southern League Western Division strugglers Stourport Swifts.
"I think he'll go because he wants to play at the highest level possible," said Adams.
"I think he's leaning towards Stourport and I'm planning to be without him on Saturday (after the seven-day period expires).
"He goes with our blessing. He's 19 and I've told him he should move on.
"We'll be gutted to lose him because he's one of our best, if not our best, player and he will go on to play at the highest level of non-league football."
Hands was set to make his final appearance in last night's Worcester Infirmary Cup trip to West Midlands League outfit Bromyard Town. He was forced to sit out Saturday's 4-0 win at Nuneaton Griffs through injury.
Fergusson was also set to return after illness together with Matt Evans. And Nicky Clarke could be in the frame for Saturday's trip to third-placed Coventry Sphinx (ko 2.45pm), which could see the Millers go third with a win.
Feckenham lost their extensive unbeaten run on their unlucky 13th fixture last week, bowing out of the Smedley Crooke Cup 2-0 to lower division outfit Fairfield Villa.
Midfielder Jamie Hands has left the club by mutual consent.
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