Flackwell Heath manager Graham Malcolm says losing last season’s 70-goal strike duo Dan Burnell and Gavin James is the “final nail in the coffin” for the club after a turbulent summer.

The forwards left to pursue challenges higher up the leagues after their exploits in helping the Heathens romp to the Hellenic Premier Division title went unrewarded as the club were forced to turn down promotion having been put into the South and West division, leaving them facing trips to a far afield as Devon.

It wasn’t a financially viable option for the club, who had been expecting to be put into the Southern Central division where Burnell, who netted 32 league goals last term, will now be plying his trade with Aylesbury United.

James, whose brother Ashleigh will also be leaving Heath, is currently hoping to secure a contract with National League South outfit Maidenhead United following his first two caps for St Vincent and the Grenadines, leaving Malcolm with sizable boots to fill ahead of the upcoming season.

“It’s a difficult one for the club and certainly for the players, but this was always going to be the final bit,” he said.

“Had we of gone up would we have kept every player? Probably because it would have been enough to take the momentum and excitement onto the next league and see what we could do.

“Now, understandably, certain players are looking to progress and ironically Danny and Ash will end up at the level that we should have been at. Gav’s trying to get a higher level of football because of the World Cup qualifiers which are happening in August.

“I’m all for them playing higher up because they’re good players and that’s where they should be. It would have worked for us very well but it hasn’t and it’s going to be a difficult season. You can’t replace 100 goals can you?”

As well as the aforementioned trio, the Flackwell boss has also seen first choice ‘keeper Rob Bullivant hang up his boots this summer, although the majority of his squad has re-signed for another crack at the league which they won by 12 points last season.

James finished the campaign as the Hellenic Premier’s top marksman, finding the net 38 times in 36 games, and finding players to fill the void left by the 26-year-old and Burnell is Malcolm’s top priority.

He said: “We’re currently talking to three strikers and if everything goes to plan they will all arrive at training on Tuesday and we’ll go with that. Jamie Handscombe, our other striker, will re-sign this year and Jay was very influential to our team last year.

“He didn’t get a lot of credit but earlier in the season, when Danny wasn’t here, he tore teams apart on his own. Jamie Handscombe is one of those players for whom playing 40 games a season is quite difficult because he has a family.

“We’re just looking to bring in a marquee striker, someone that is not going to replace Danny and Gav but who is going to give us a lift.”

The Flackwell manager says he has no “sour grapes” towards the pair, and also revealed that club chairman Terry Glynn used his relationship with Maidenhead manager Alan Devonshire to help James earn a trial with United.

Life without their deadly duo promises to be “difficult” for Heath but with the new season less than a month away, Malcolm is looking to whip his new look side into shape, starting with a friendly against Finchampstead this weekend.

“I can’t deny that we’re all not still a little flat, we are, there’s no doubt about that,” said the Heathens boss.

“We need the game on Saturday to get us going, get us motivated and get us looking ahead to the league we’re in and the teams we’re playing against. It’s going to be difficult, I’m not denying that.

“If I had a crystal ball I would struggle to tell you where I envisage us going this season.”