SOHAM Town Rangers manager Ian Benjamin was rocked this week after learning Steve Bugg is quitting the club. Bugg, 25, who has scored 131 goals in 200 games for Soham, is joining Ryman League Division One side Bury Town. He moved to Julius Martin Lane fro

SOHAM Town Rangers manager Ian Benjamin was rocked this week after learning Steve Bugg is quitting the club.

Bugg, 25, who has scored 131 goals in 200 games for Soham, is joining Ryman League Division One side Bury Town.

He moved to Julius Martin Lane from Tuddenham Rovers at the beginning of the 2002/2003 season and will be a big loss to the club.

But Benjamin, pictured above, revealed he had no desire to stand in Bugg's way once he had made his decision.

"Steve's a fantastic lad and he's wonderful in the dressing room but sometimes you only get one chance and you have to take it," said Benjamin.

"It's a chance for him to play at a higher level and I haven't got a leg to stand on because that was what I always wanted to do when I played."

There was more bad news this week because winger Matt Robinson, one of Greens' most consistent players last term, will probably be sidelined with a torn cruciate ligament.

Benjamin confirmed: "He's been to see a specialist but it looks as though he's injured his cruciate, so he would be out for most of next season."

And an operation on Andy Furnell's ankle revealed that the striker played threequarters of last season nursing a fracture, and he is doubtful for the start of the season.

"It just goes to show how well he did," said Benjamin, "but his fitness is touch and go."

On the plus side, Benjamin revealed he was talking to "three or four" players with a view to bringing them to the club, although he was not prepared to name anyone at this stage.

"All I can do is keep trying to build my squad," said Benjamin.

He said he had spoken to a possible candidate to be his assistant "a couple of times" over the last few weeks and that talks were going well.

Benjamin has no plans, however, to set up a fans' forum to tell supporters of his plans for next season.

"I'm always in the bar after matches and if people have something to say to me, they can say it then," he said.