STANWAY ROVERS boss Angelo Harrop is worried his club are becoming a “feeder” for teams higher up the football food chain.

Billy Hunt is their latest player to leave, with Conference South side Chelmsford City swooping just before Christmas.

Others including Terry Rymer, Jake Clowsley (both Brightlingsea Regent), Jack Smith (Heybridge Swifts), Mike Fondop-Talon (Billericay Town) and goalkeeper Dan Heath (Newmarket Town) have also moved on from The Hawthorns.

Harrop believes his players’ success speaks volumes for the club’s recruitment system.

However, he admits it is frustrating to see key men come and go.

“I’m happy for Billy, because it’s a big jump up to the Conference South,” said the Rovers boss, who is looking to bring in a new striker to replace the former Heybridge Swifts man.

“However, it’s hugely disappointing and frustrating, because I rate him so highly.

“He’s the best player the club have had for years, in my opinion, and we weren’t just beating teams while he was here - we were cruising.

“I couldn’t see us losing.

“Billy is the latest in a list of players to go and it’s very hard to replace them.

“We’re victims of our own success.

“On the positive side, it shows our recruitment is fantastic.

“We’re obviously doing the right things, in terms of the players we bring in.

“But I don’t want us to become a feeder club and the down side is that our success is bringing our players to people’s attention.

“To be honest, if I was a Ryman League manager, I’d be watching Stanway.

“I’d be following them every week because these boys are performing miracles.”

Stanway are one of four Thurlow Nunn League clubs to apply for promotion to the Ryman League.

And Harrop has warned that if his side do not move up to step four, other players will head through the exit door.

“If we don’t make that step up, we’re going to lose our best players,” he said.

“That’s the harsh reality - without doubt.

“Money talks and, from a football point of view, any player worth their salt wants to play at the highest level and push themselves.”

Rovers will be aiming to kick-start another winning run tomorrow.

Their eight-match winning run was halted by last week’s 2-2 draw at home to Newmarket Town.

In a strange quirk, they now face the same opposition again tomorrow, except this time in Suffolk.

Joss Neale is available, having served a one-match ban last week.

However, full-back Jemal Fox is struggling with a knee injury and is rated 50-50.