Avenue boss Carl Shutt was left fuming this week when striker Ashley Scothern was the subject of an alleged illegal approach - and he insists the club will take the issue to the authorities.

Former Barnsley trainee Scothern's career is now in limbo after Shutt, backed by the Avenue board, decided to reject the player's request to be released from his contract with the Bradford club.

He will not be in the squad for tomorrow's Conference North relegation clash at Moor Green. Shutt is doing everything in his power to ensure that Scothern will not be allowed to link up with Conference side Leigh RMI for their FA Trophy tie.

"Ashley rang me at 3-30pm on Tuesday, just three hours before the team-sheet was due to be in for our Conference Cup second- round tie at Stalybridge Celtic - to pull out of our squad," said Shutt.

"He told me why but I didn't release the details to anyone. The cup game was postponed after that but later the same day it was reported that Leigh had signed Ashley Scothern.

"No one from Leigh had contacted us at that point, not even to say they wanted to talk to the player. The following day we got official notification from Leigh that they were putting in seven days' notice of approach for Ashley.

"The horse had already bolted, this is a ridiculous situation. As far as I'm concerned he is our player, contracted to the club and he is going nowhere.

"We have already reported Leigh to the Conference League and to the FA and we'll see what comes of that. Something has to be done.

"We will see if there is one rule for us and another rule for the others."

Officially Scothern is still an Avenue player but he will not be considered for tomorrow's squad.

"If anything I think this will bring the players closer together as we go in search of three points," added Shutt.

"Every game is a big one for us at the moment and the last thing we need is this kind of thing weakening our squad."

Bradford Park Avenue (from): Britton, Quinn, Wray, Naylor, Clayton, Brompton, Walsh, Lennon, Smith, Oleksewycz, Holland, Jones, Crossley, Sheriffe, Greaves, Cressey, Mumbly, Shutt.