JAMES Bittner has vowed never to play for Chippenham Town again after a bitter transfer dispute with Bluebirds boss Tommy Saunders.

The goalkeeper's future at Hardenhuish Park looked bleak after Saunders signed Cirencester Town custodian Mark Hervin last Thursday, and Bittner resigned himself to a move away from Wiltshire.

But the former Fulham man was livid when his escape route was blocked by Saunders, who turned down a £1,000 bid for his services from Conference club Woking.

The keeper's Town contract has expired and he is free to sign for another club. But because he is only 21 years old, Chippenham must be compensated for their loss under FA guidelines.

So while Bittner believes he is a free agent, Saunders insists he remains a Bluebirds asset until another party can meet his valuation of the shot-stopper.

A frustrated Bittner explained: "Tommy offered me a new contract last week but gave me a deadline of Wednesday to agree to it.

"I still want to get back into the pro game so I needed more time to sort myself out.

"I didn't sign by the deadline so Tommy went and got Mark Hervin.

"When I heard he had turned down a bid from Woking I was furious.

"The Conference is a great shop window. I would have been full-time and on better money and it would have been a step in the right direction for me."

"Tommy won't let me go even though I'm no longer on contract.

"I have loved my time at Chippenham, but after the way I've been treated over this I will never play for them again."

Saunders appears happy to let Bittner pursue a career at a higher standard, as long as the price is right.

He said: "Woking made me a miserly offer of £1,000.

"That's not a million miles away from what I would accept but it's not enough.

"Woking thought my asking price was reasonable and they might get back to me.

"I am not stopping James from leaving, but the club must be compensated and a £1,000 is not enough."

If an improved Woking offer fails to materialise, Bittner may have other options to pursue.

He is confident that a series of trials at Nationwide League clubs last week could prove fruitful.

"I had a game at Northampton last week and that went very well for me," he said. "Hopefully something will come of that."

Any chance of a permanent deal at Queens Park Rangers appears to have disappeared though.

Bittner trains at Loftus Road during the week and was at the Millennium Stadium to see his colleagues miss out against Cardiff in the Division Two play-off final on Sunday.

"It was a double disappointment for me," he said.

"The lads were absolutely heartbroken and if they had gone up there was a good chance I would have signed full-time because the club would have extra money available for a bigger squad."

Meanwhile, new Town keeper Hervin is relishing the prospect of taking over from Bittner at Hardenhuish.

After two spells at Bath City, the 30-year-old feels right at home among Chippenham's extensive former Twerton Park contingent.

"I'm really looking forward to playing in the Dr Martens Premier again," he said.

"It's a bit like the Bath City old boys here and I know everyone already.

"They're all local lads and that makes for a great team spirit which is why the club did so well last year."