Simon Funnell has been told he will be welcomed back at Worthing after being frozen out of the Division One promotion race.

Funnell has been told by Bognor boss Jack Pearce he has no part to play in Rocks' push for a top three finish.

Pearce has given the striker, who he signed from Rebels in the summer on a one-year contract, a week to find a new club.

Worthing boss Barry Lloyd caught up with Funnell while they were watching Rocks' 1-1 draw with leaders Aylesbury on Tuesday.

Lloyd said: "We spoke briefly and at half-time I told him it was up to him to give me a bell.

"He is considering what he wants to do but he knows where we are and if he wants to come and train or play we will be happy to see him."

Pearce gave Funnell huge credit for Rocks' flying start to the season but felt he was under-performing in the last couple of months.

Bognor went into Tuesday's match with a 4-3-3 line-up, using Gareth Green and Richard Hudson as orthodox wingers and Matt Russell down the middle.

Pearce said: "I have always wanted to play with width but you have to make sure you are not weak in the middle.

"Ideally I would play 4-4-2. The system we played on Tuesday put an awful lot of pressure on Matty."

Pearce is keen to bring former Fulham youngster John Pomeroy back to Bognor after seeing him score regularly for second division Chertsey.

Rocks have been drawing too many games but have still to play five of the bottom seven at Nyewood Lane and Pearce said: "We are not out of it by a long shot.

"We are not getting the rewards our football deserves. Last week we dominated at Uxbridge but lost 2-0 to a 30-yard missile and a last minute goal."

Lloyd reckons he might have signed two for the future with his latest defensive acquisitions.

He gave former Worthing United left back Chris Hibberd a run in last Saturday's unlucky 3-2 defeat by Carshalton.

On the bench was central defender Danny Stevens, who comes from Worthing but has been playing for Fareham while he studies at Portsmouth University.

Stevens was denied a debut when Tuesday's trip to Whyteleafe was called off but stood a chance of appearing in today's clash with Barking and East Ham.

Hibberd's chance came when Mark Knee went down with flu. The 19-year-old would have made his second appearance on Tuesday.

Lloyd has lost the services of defender Damian Webber but expects Gavin Geddes to turn down an approach from Carshalton.

The Rebels boss said: "I thought Chris did very well last week, especially considering it was his first game at that level."

Lloyd cited family commitments as Webber's reason for leaving the club.

Mark Burt today started a two-match ban, which was likely to give Darren Baxter another chance.