STRIKER Tony Lee has left AFC Totton to try his luck one level up with Weymouth.

The former Eastleigh young gun originally became a Stag last summer but left before the season had started to join Poole Town in the National League South.

But, come October, he was welcomed back into the Totton fold, initially on loan, before his signing became permanent.

The 21-year-old has also been on the books of Tiverton Town, Gosport Borough, Whitehawk and Dorchester Town during an already well-travelled career.

He joins a Weymouth side who are desperate for promotion from the Southern League South (Premier), having lost out 3-0 at Kings Lynn in last season's play-off semi-finals.

A Weymouth FC statement said: “Tony fits the profile that the club are looking for and the management are looking forward to developing his skill set and believe he will offer a versatility to the squad.

“Weymouth would like to thank AFC Totton for their co-operation and wish them the best of luck for the coming season.”

With Lee leaving and veteran marksman Nathaniel Sherborne retiring, it leaves Totton a couple of strikers light for the upcoming Southern League West campaign.

The good news, though, is that fellow marksman Craig Feeney is among four key players to have penned new deals for 2018/19, alongside midfielder Jack Masterton, defender Callum Chugg and goalkeeper Shane Murphy.

Manager Louis Langdown said: “I am delighted to have secured Murphs for next season as he is one of the best goalkeepers in the league, and having last season’s top scorer (Feeney) back on board is great news for everybody at the club.”

So too is keeping hold of manager's player-of-the-season Masterton who, like Lee, was on the fringes of the first-team squad as a youngster at Eastleigh.

“This was Jack’s first full season at senior level and the player we knew we were getting, we got," said Langdown. "I really believe he has a chance of stepping up the leagues and, of course, we’d like that to be with Totton. This contract is reward for his performances and commitment.”

Chugg, a no-nonsense defender, also had a fantastic debut season having arrived as a relatively unknown quantity from Wessex outfit Fawley.

He too is highly thought of by the Totton management, with assistant boss Adam Wilde saying: “Chuggy has all the attributes to kick on and play a high standard of non-League football.

"Our job is to keep his feet on the floor and ensure his second season is as good as his first." 

Hythe-based Chugg, 20, admitted he "didn't expect to play much" when he first joined the Stags, but ended up being voted players’ player and young player-of-the-season for 2017/18.

Goalkeeper Murphy, formerly of Dorchester Town, collected the supporters’ player and senior player awards.