DAISY Hill believe an exodus of key players and the club's proximity to Westhoughton Cricket Club are responsible for their poor start to the season.

The new-look St James Street side have been beaten in their opening three games after suffering the loss of captain Mark Wood (to Spring View), Paul Hart and Mark Atherton (Westhoughton), Sean Brookes (Darcy Lever), Amjid Khan (Horwich) and Paul Atherton (retired).

They have brought in experienced ex-Northern League player Naveed Yousuf from Fleetwood, who has had an immediate positive impact, and Abid Younas from Cheetham Hill, who they hope will also settle into an influential player.

The expense of replacing the six players who have left with like-for-like quality players has persuaded Daisy to turn to youth and begin a recruitment campaign for both senior and junior players.

"Amateur players are asking for quite a bit of money," said Daisy joint manager Darren Sale. "We spend to our budget.

"The problem with some of these younger players is they think they are better than they are and think they can just come in and get a bit of money.

"We didn't get an overseas because all the professionals were taken up.

"The club is doing well, it's open seven days a week and doing well with functions.

"We are trying to bring the younger players through, starting from the bottom, from the juniors upwards.

"And we've only had three games so it's early and the morale is good.

"Naveed Yousuf has had a big influence. He's got a lot of experience and talks well with the other players.

"Abid Younas needs more games to settle in but he will get there."

The closeness of Daisy Hill to the bigger Westhoughton club is also proving a problem.

"We're a small club in Daisy Hill," said Sale.

"Westhoughton are based in Daisy Hill and we can't compete with them and their facilities, which are fantastic, so we probably just get all the cast-offs.

"We're competing with a big club in Westhoughton with plenty of money, but our ground has got more character than theirs.

"We are a bit thin on the ground for players at the moment, seniors and especially juniors and we would like to recruit some more.

"Anyone can give me a ring if they are interested or juniors can come along to coaching on Fridays at 5.45pm at the ground.

"We have under-10s, u12s, u14s and u17s.

"Any local senior players wanting to play for a club can come, I'm looking all the time. We've got firsts, seconds and thirds.

"We're a well-run village club and everyone is welcome with open arms."

Sale can be contacted on 07790 647320.