HASTINGS full-back Spencer Mintram is to train with Albion.

The 25-year-old will link-up with the Seagulls for two days next week after he was recommended to manager Jeff Wood by chief scout Ken Craggs.

Mintram has attracted the interest of professional clubs before. He was offered a contract by Ray Clemence when he managed Barnet but turned it down because of their derisory wage offer.

He also had a week with Sheffield United and played reserve team games for Cambridge and West Ham.

Mintram said: "I got a phone call out of the blue from Ken Craggs and it's a real boost, I need some good news at the moment. I will be with them on Thursday and Friday and probably play for the reserves after that."

Town face Worcester City tomorrow amid the continuing uncertainty about the club's future.

Owner Mark Gardiner has promised a statement later today, but Mintram and the other players are still owed last month's wages which were due a week ago.

Town's players are taking advice from the FA about their contractual position.

Ashford are still keen to sign several of their players including Mintram, Stuart Playford, Paul Tuppenny and Steve Yates.

But boss Dean White expects them all to face Worcester tomorrow when Town try to build on last week's astonishing 5-1 win at Tamworth.

"Considering all the problems it was a magnificent performance. I have said for weeks that, with the chances we've been creating, we would tonk a side.

"The players came off looking like they had spent three days on a horse, Tamworth tried to kick lumps out of them but our lads were unbelievable."

Hastings (from): Kessell, Hobbs, Mintram, Tuppenny, Myall, Ball, White, Chapman, Smith, Playford, Yates, Sargent, Elford, Morris, Jones.

OLLIE OXLEY could make a long-awaited return in goal for St Leonards for the southern division clash with Raunds Town at the Firs.

Oxley hasn't played since August 1997 but stands by to replace the suspended Barry Gartell. Steve Norman is also banned and strikers Peter Baker (groin) and Neil Phillips (knee) are unfit. Midfielder David Cannon will make his home debut while Mark Dunne is set for only his third appearance of the season after re-joining Saints from Tooting & Mitcham.

St Leonards (from): Powell, Oxley, Ruddy, Wood, Burt, Flanagan, Dunne, Ramsden, Barham, Fox, Miles, Cannon, Temple, Devine, Olorunda.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.