LES Hines admits it was a wrench leaving Worcester City -- but he refused to warm the substitutes bench any longer.

The 29-year-old rejoined his former club, Nationwide North basement boys Hednesford Town, after losing his left-back berth to Adam Burley.

Hines saw the writing on the wall earlier this month when Burley arrived from Gainsborough Trinity for an undisclosed four-figure fee.

"Obviously, the gaffer brought Adam Burley in and he's going to be first choice left wing-back," said Hines. "He paid a fee for Adam and long admired him, so I probably did see my situation coming.

"We've got so many left-backs, with Shabir Khan and Dennis Pearce. But once Adam came, it did not take a genius to work out my position.

"It was the first time the gaffer had got an opportunity to spend money.

"Last week, I spoke with him and he was honest, telling me in advance that I needed to get myself sorted with a new club.

"He was good to me in that respect. It was a bolt out of the blue being told though and it is a wrench leaving."

Hines added: "I enjoyed it at Wor-cester and everybody knows that. I liked the lads and the club. But it's time for me to move on. I'm 29 and there's no point staying around keeping the bench warm.

"I'm coming towards my twilight years and I want to be playing every week. I don't mind missing out for a week or two, perhaps coming back from injury, but not for any long period. That can get you down.

"I've left for a footballing point of view. This is a chance to get back and play every week.

"I could have stayed at Worcester until the end of the season and stayed on the bench. But I've got to get myself in the shop window."

Signed by John Barton in the summer of 2004 after clinching the FA Trophy at Hednesford, Hines went on to make 70 City appearances.

The former Kidderminster Harriers defender also scored five times, making his mark immediately with a thumping free-kick against Redditch at the start of last season.

An expert deliverer of corners and free-kicks, Hines can also credit himself to numerous assists from set-pieces.

"I scored a few good goals," Hines added. "I scored more goals at Wor-cester than at any of my other clubs, but only by two or three!

"There's been a lot of good memories. The Huddersfield FA Cup game would be a personal highlight -- it was great for the club and for the team.

"I've totally enjoyed my time. I've been a bit unlucky this season with injuries and I was out for about three months, which did not help."

Hines is now determined to help the rock-bottom Pitmen -- comprehensively thrashed 4-0 by Worcester last Saturday at Keys Park -- beat the drop. He said: "I've agreed to play until the end of the season and then we will take it from there.

"Hopefully, we can stay in the league, but it will be tough. I don't really want to drop down from Nationwide North.

"It's the league I want to play my football. The standard of football is better and the grounds are better. But beggars can't be choosers."