Ace Jay 'gutted' as Rooks give him the chop

ACE defender Jay Lovett says he is 'hurt and gutted' after not being retained by Rooks's manager Steve King for next Conference South season's squad.

Those re-signed by Lewes for the 2006-07 season so far are Jean-Michel Sigere, Paul Wilkerson, Aaron France, Dean Hooper, Steve Robinson, Leon Legge, Simon Wormull, Paul Kennett, Steve Elliott and Lee Farrell.

Lovett, a fans's favourite at the Dripping Pan along with Kirk Watts, who has moved to Bromley, went on: 'I didn't want to leave, I've got so many friends at the club and love chatting to the fans in the bar after matches and around the town, but the decision is out of my hands.

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'The club is moving on and now I won't be a part of it. I come from Brighton, was with Lewes as a boy and that has now come to an end. It hasn't really sunk in yet.

'I love the area and the club and have done a lot of coaching with Lewes and Bridge View, and my girlfriend Samantha is local and comes from Chailey. We're getting married though we haven't set a date yet.

'The reason given for my departure was that Lewes want a natural left-footer at left back and Dean Hooper is rated as first choice on the right.

'Perhaps I am paying for being versatile, I've been happy to play anywhere in the back four.

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'I've had a few offers and I'll pick the one that suits me. I'm determined to play at the highest level if I can.'

King is currently in negotiation with a number of possible new signings and is also still talking with some of last season's squad.

According to the Cambridge Evening News the Rooks are close to signing Cambridge City striker Paul Booth.

City manager Gary Robert is quoted as saying: 'I'm resigned to losing Paul because there's no way we can compete with the type of money they have offered him.'

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Booth joined City from Welling in the summer of 2005. He previously played for Tunbridge Wells and Gravesend. He scored 32 goals last season, 24 in the Conference South, six in the FA Cup and two in the FA Trophy.

It is rumoured that King is also chasing Gravesend's Jay Saunders and Canvey Island's Dominic Sterling.