CHIPPENHAM Town manager Tommy Saunders has asked Conference giants Yeovil Town to name their price for striker James Bent.

The 21-year-old front man is currently on loan from Yeovil, but Saunders wants to make the transfer permanent as Chippenham chase the title in their first season in the Dr Martens League Western Division.

"We have made a cash offer for James and are waiting for Yeovil to reply, " Saunders revealed yesterday.

"Basically, we are asking Yeovil what price they want for him.

Bent joined Chippenham on loan at the beginning of October and has already scored eight goals as the Bluebirds soared to the top of the table.

Said Saunders: "James has been superb since joining us and we want to make the transfer permanent. I like him as player and we get on a personal level.

"But he is a full-time player at Yeovil, where he also lives, and I could understand it if he decided to stay put."

Saunders has already failed in one bid to strengthen his squad, after Bath City manager Alan Pridham turned down an offer for Jamie Goslin.

Chippenham offered a "small fee" for the midfielder, who was signed by City from team Bath, but is currently unable to gain a regular first team place at Twerton Park.

Chippenham have dropped to fourth place in the Western Division table after a sequence of bizarre events on Wednesday night.

The Bluebirds' home game against title rivals Clevedon Town had to be abandoned after only 23 minutes after the Hardenhuish Park floodlights failed.

Chippenham were winning 1-0 at the time, thanks to a sixth minute goal by Simon Charity, but the fixture will now have to be replayed.

Said Saunders: "It appears there was a fault in the floodlight control box in the clubhouse. We had been training at the ground on Monday night and there was no problem with the lights then.

"It's a great shame, because it was shaping up to be a good game. We had taken the lead and Matt Rawlins had missed another decent chance, while Clevedon had also gone close on a couple of occasions.

"There were over 600 supporters there and no one complained. I'd like to thank them all for that."

Chippenham have also been hit by the resignation from the league of Bloxwich United.

The club was formed only this summer by the merger of Dr Martens League Blakenall and Midlands Alliance outfit Bloxwich, but the new club have been struggling financially and their scheduled match against Bilston on Tuesday night was called off.

Dr Martens League officials will now order Bloxwich's playing record to be expunged, meaning Chippenham will lose the three points from their 4-1 win last month.