CORSHAM Town manager Colin Bush has hit out at the Wiltshire FA after losing two players on county duty for next week's FA Vase tie.

Scott Lye and Jamie Lyons will both be unavailable for the first round proper match at Backwell next Saturday after being selected to play for Wiltshire Youth in the FA County Youth Cup against Worcester.

Bush has asked for the pair to be released by the county but his request was refused.

He said: "They told me that the county has first choice on our players. So after getting through two very tough matches I can't field my best sides for the big game.

"Scott is a tremendous talent and Jamie has also made a good early impression here so they are weakening my options considerably.

"We are committed to giving youth a chance down here and it seems as though we are penalised for that in a match that is massive for the club."

Progress into the second round would earn Corsham £800 prize money and Bush believes his side's chances have been hampered by the clash of games.

He said: "Without getting myself into trouble the situation definitely needs to be looked at. To have a county game on the FA Vase weekend does not seem right.

"They are Corsham Town players, not Wiltshire players, and they should be available for us when there is a big game.

"If that is the rule then we will have to put up with it but it does not seem right to me."

In 2000 Bush was assistant manager at Chippenham Town when they reached the final of the FA Vase at Wembley and he knows the benefits of a good run.

He said: "When we reached the latter stages there was no doubt we were representing Wiltshire as a whole and I don't think a county game would have been arranged then.

"The Vase is a money spinner but we are being hampered. Premier League teams are not disadvantaged when there is an England game so why should we be when the county are playing?

"Over the last year I have been very supportive to the county and have helped out their senior side and youth teams on numerous occasions. We even let them have our facilities but a club like ours can't afford to miss out on money spinners like the Vase."

Wiltshire FA secretary Mike Benson said: "The rule is if a player decides not to play for the county then he is suspended for that game for his club. It is unfortunate the games do clash with club matches sometimes but as the home side Worcester had the final call on the day and time of the match."