WORCESTER City manager Richard Dryden has dismissed AFC Telford United's bid for captain Chris Smith as derisory'.

The Bucks tabled an offer of £1,500 for the City skipper as well as an additional payment should they get promoted to the Blue Square Premier.

But the St George's Lane club were quick to reject the approach from their Blue Square North rivals, saying the bid did not come close to their valuation of the player - likely to be around £10,000.

Smith, currently out with an ankle injury, has a contract with the club until the end of the season and the offer is only half the £3,000 City paid for Ryan Clarke following a tribunal in August.

The 26-year-old is also seen as an integral part of Dryden's plans as he attempts to mount a challenge for the play-offs.

Dryden was made aware of the Bucks' interest by boss Rob Smith but has made it clear he does not want his captain to leave.

He would also have to replace his talisman should any deal eventually be agreed and City are strapped for defenders as it is with Jonathan Munday and Jonny Harkness only on loan from Kidderminster Harriers.

The City manager said: "I spoke to the Telford manager earlier in the week and he said he would put in a bid.

"I spoke to Chris Smith and told him my feelings. If we are going to be ambitious we have got to keep our best players.

"He's one of the best, if not the best, centre-half in the league so the offer was a bit derisory."

City chairman Dave Boddy said: "The offer is way below our valuation of Chris, who is rated by many people as one of the best central defenders in the league.

"Richard is trying to build a side and Chris is very much a part of his plans."

But Telford believe they have made a realistic offer and appear intent on trying to prise Smith away.

Lee Carter, chairman at the Shropshire club, said: "This is just the first phase of negotiations. I am not sure what the outcome of this will be but I will be talking to the manager and the board over the course of the day to establish where we go from here.

"Worcester rate him highly and we rate him very, very highly and in that instance something very rarely gives.

"We have made what we believe to be a very sensible and realistic offer bearing in mind what we perceive to be the current state of the transfer market at this level of football.

"Obviously as the selling club, Worcester quite rightly have a different perception to us."