Colin Payne announced this week that player-coach Mark Robson is to leave the club.

He said: 'Robbo's been offered a job coaching the Youth Academy at Charlton (one of his former clubs), and he told me last Saturday that he was just waiting to sign on the line for them.

'We've been very fortunate to have him and it's a massive blow to lose a player of his stature at this stage of the season.

'Robbo always wanted to play football and felt that the supporters didn't pay their money to see people smash the ball.

'It's a great opportunity for him at Charlton and it also eases our budget. We could get maybe two or three new players in on his wages!'

'We've just signed Alan Paris as our new player-coach, so we've moved quickly to fill the gap.

'Alan played 400 plus games at the highest level for Notts County, Leicester and Peterborough and is a tremendous player.

'I've been very, very impressed with the feedback in the dressing room from the other players. His attitude is first-class.'

Chairman Danny Hunter, speaking from Prague, said: 'Robbo was always honest with us and said that it was his ambition to return to the first-class game, and would move if the right chance came along.

'As a player he put a lot of pressure on himself sometimes by wanting to play too much football, but he was a great coach and I think he'll go through the ranks.'

Robson, who also served both Tottenham and West Ham, joined Wood last October, played 32 matches, scoring three times.

Midfielder Chris McMenemin has also been released after appearing nine times for the club.

Payne said: 'He missed five training sessions and we've now signed what I feel are better players for his position.'

There is no further news regarding defender Lee Harvey. Payne remarked: 'I haven't rang him or St Albans (his current club). I don't think Lee will now be coming to the club. I told him that if he wanted to hold out much longer I would make the decision for him.'

Commenting on Saturdays' win over a young QPR line-up, Payne said: 'We played some lovely football in the second half, just as they did in the first, and it was probably our toughest pre-season game after the Arsenal. It was a hot day and Rangers showed good pace and strength, but we made some changes at half-time and could have had six or seven goals in the end!'