CHIPPENHAM Town manager Mark Collier has confirmed that midfielder Harley Purnell has left the club.

The 25-year-old joined the Bluebirds from Yate Town last summer and scored his only Chippenham goal in a dramatic 1-0 victory over Stourbridge last September.

Collier says that Purnell, who featured predominantly at right-back following the Bluebirds boss’ arrival at Hardenhuish Park, has opted to leave due to the departure of long-term team-mates such as Joe McClennan, Tom Knighton, Jack Allward and Ben John over the past six months.

“Harley Purnell has left. He told me last Friday that he hasn’t found a new club but a lot of it was down to the fact that the group that he came here with have all gone,” said Collier.

“We did offer him reduced terms on the deal he was on last year and I think that he was also uncomfortable about the volume of first-team opportunities he might have this season.

“I’ve got no problem with that and I wish him well, wherever he crops up.”

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