WANDERERS look to be back at square one in their efforts to find a back-up keeper to Ben Alnwick.

Sam Walker, who had been on trial for the last few weeks and widely expected to sign a deal, has now left to pursue an offer from Championship rivals Reading.

Jake Turner – Wanderers’ highly-rated stopper – also signed a loan deal with Stalybridge Celtic last week which left Phil Parkinson short on options in the midweek friendly at Guiseley.

Another keeper who has impressed the academy staff, James Aspinall, could be called up for the weekend’s match at Peterborough United but Parkinson has confirmed he is looking for senior cover before the start of the season at West Brom.

Former Bury and Bradford keeper Ben Williams stepped in on Tuesday night but is not being considered in a playing role. He was brought in by Parkinson and senior coach Lee Butler after Ian Wilcock left to join Manchester United Ladies.

“We’ve got a bit of sorting to do,” explained Parkinson. “Sam wasn’t with us, at Guiseley he’s gone to Reading, we hear, so it’s another area we’re looking at. We have got a few good options.

“Ben has come in to help coach the academy keepers because our academy goalie coach went to Manchester United Ladies. He’s helped out over the summer.

“We didn’t want to play Ben Alnwick because we want him to feature Saturday at Peterborough.”

Six-foot six stopper Walker played in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Morecambe last week and has trained with the senior squad but Parkinson played down how close he came to getting an offer of a contract.

“We were assessing him but we have to be 100 per cent sure,” he added.

Wanderers released the experienced Mark Howard at the end of last season after two years with the club - and the keeper has since signed a deal with League One Blackpool.

One of the squad’s top earners, Ben Amos, was also allowed to leave for the final year of his contract on a season-long loan with Millwall.

Parkinson could revive talks with veteran former Wales international Boaz Myhill was brought in for a short trial a couple of weeks ago.

Serious interest was denied at the time and no contract was offered but the 35-year-old remains a free agent.