PERSHORE Town have been gazumped at the last in their bid to land Redditch Borough hotshot Billy Garvey.

Town boss Quentin Townsend claimed high-flying Midland Football League Division One rivals Studley had landed the feisty frontrunner having made an offer Pershore could not compete with.

“Studley is on his doorstep and we cannot compete on any level with them financially,” said Townsend.

At least Townsend has had time to assess other options with his side left kicking their heels on Saturday and in midweek.

Trips to Heath Hayes and Heather St Johns were wiped out by the cold snap with the next opportunity to push away from the lower reaches arriving on Saturday at home to Bolehall Swifts (3pm).

Town will be protecting a four-match unbeaten league run in which they have accumulated eight points to nudge up to sixth bottom and a victory would see them leapfrog a Bolehall outfit who sit one place above.