IT has been a bad week for Studley manager Kevin Rowlands, despite a hard-fought goalless draw at Racing Club Warwick on Saturday.
"Since last week I've lost my star striker Shane Benjamin to Evesham, my sweeper and coach Andy Smith to Malvern and my black Labrador Barney - and he's the one I want back the most!" admitted the Bees boss.
A want-away canine topped off a week which saw Rowlands fail to talk Benjamin out of a move to Southern League Premier Division strugglers Evesham -- a well-worn route for Studley players.
"In the past couple of years Evesham have had Dave Adey, Steve Hands, Adam Blake, Steve Duncan and Jamie Bailey," moaned Rowlands, "I'm expecting their next seven-day approach to be for me.
"I'm doing half of (Evesham manager) Dave Busst's job already, they may as well have me full time!"
There was some consolation for Rowlands in the return of forward Bailey, travelling in the opposite direction after the arrival of Benjamin and former Redditch United forward John Williams.
Player-coach Smith was tempted away by the promise of Southern League football offered by Alliance champions-elect Malvern. Jason Dyer has been promoted to player-coach at Studley.
"Jason has the experience and is at the stage where he is looking at going into coaching," added Rowlands.
"Both players go with our blessing, we were never going to hold onto Shane because of his ambition.
"He wants to play at the highest non-league level and has chosen to try and get there through the Evesham route."
And the Bees boss said he is not looking forward to the visit of rock-bottom Rocester on Saturday (ko 3pm).
"They have not won in 60-odd matches now but no-one in the league looks forward to going there in case they get turned over," he explained.
n Youngsters Adrian Parkes and Lee Chilton were among the goals for Alvechurch in Saturday's 3-2 victory over a strong Coalville Town side.
The pair, snapped up from West Midlands League minnows Blackheath Town, netted in the first half while a Danny Geary effort kept the high-flying Leicestershire side in contention.
Neil Kitching's goal 15 minutes from time proved the winner though with Coalville's Ashley Warner wrapping up the proceedings five minutes later.
Church were due to travel to Oldbury United last night but are without a game on Saturday.
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