CHORLEY will enter the final crucial month of the season without striker

Neil Smith who has left the club because he was unhappy at being unable

to command a regular first team spot.

The loss of the striker is a blow to Chorley's survival hopes as they

currently lie just two points clear of the relegation zone with six

matches to pay.

Chorley manager Shaun Teale admitted he was disappointed by Smith's

decision but insisted the forward was not good enough to earn automatic

selection.

Teale said: "Neil has made his decision and that is up to him but I

think he is wrong to go.

"He has a fair amount of raw talent and he has improved his game leaps

and bounds since I arrived thanks to our coaching at the club.

"But he is far from the finished product and a player of his

inexperience must be prepared to work hard at his game to improve and be

willing to fight for his place like everybody else.

"It is a pity he has gone because if he had stayed he would have got

better and we could have worked with him to improve his game but now we

have Neill Hardy, along with David Eatock and Danny Queeley we are not

short of options in the forward line."

Teale has strengthened midfield by signing Ian Dickinson fron Bamber

Bridge.

The manager added that he was still confident the team would avoid

relegation even though they face a tough end of season run-in, having to

face two out of the top three teams in their final three matches.

He said "We face some tough matches but then every team in this

division, with the exception of Rocester, is tough to beat and if we

battle we will get the points we need to stay up."

Chorley will travel to Ossett Town on Saturday and then will host

promotion candidates Kendal Town on Tuesday.