Paddy Davitt King's Lynn boss Carl Heggs was yesterday left counting the cost of a bruising pre-season friendly at Brackley. Heggs must now delve into the loan market to provide attacking cover for the Unibond Premier kick off on August 15 following Jordan Smith's straight red at St James Park.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn boss Carl Heggs was yesterday left counting the cost of a bruising pre-season friendly at Brackley.

Heggs must now delve into the loan market to provide attacking cover for the Unibond Premier kick off on August 15 following Jordan Smith's straight red at St James Park.

Smith faces a three match ban for violent conduct after Brackley midfielder Wayne Blossom was stretchered away with a heavily strapped right knee in the closing stages of Tuesday's 1-1 draw.

Back-up striker Anthony Robinson is already ruled out for the opening two matches for a suspension carried over from last campaign - providing Heggs with an unwanted pre-season headache.

“Now we have to look for a loan player because I am going to be two down for a week or so,” said Heggs. “We've got a small squad and to send the lad off makes me so angry. I went into the referee's room after the final whistle with the Brackley manager and his assistant and said, 'okay you've made your decision in the game but don't send it in your report.' The lad is going to lose two weeks wages and be suspended for the start of the season and he is one of my better players. He just said no. I've got my players, their players, my coaching staff, their coaching staff, all saying the same thing but he felt it was a sending off. ”

Linnets' marksman Gareth Sheldon and Brackley defender Danny Spencer had already been substituted on the orders of the match official in a spicy second half.

“If it was a dirty tackle and, let's be honest, there was much worse in that game, then just say okay, sub him right now,” said Heggs. “It's a pre-season friendly and he did it earlier in the half with Shelly and their lad. That's what makes it an absolute joke - I don't even think it was a bad tackle.”

Heggs was full of praise for his side's fighting spirit after conceding inside the opening minute of a lacklustre first period.

“No side of mine will ever, ever go on a football pitch and not give their all,” he said. “I told them before the game there is no such thing as a friendly. We're in this game to win it and that means being at it from the word go. We get caught after a few seconds and that was a bit sloppy but I thought after that we were the better side.

“We played a team who have paid out a fortune - double my budget - and in the second half I got a reaction from them. I thought they were brilliant, tenacious and committed. That is a Carl Heggs team and the ref has spoiled it for me in the last few minutes.”

Heggs confirmed he has agreed a deal for former Mansfield keeper Jason White, with Linnets' officials poised to complete the paperwork ahead of this weekend's pre-season finale at Rugby.

“He has a safe pair of hands, he's 6ft 4in and played 70 odd games for Mansfield,” said Heggs. “He's not going to come here and be overawed by the size of the club or the fan base because he has played at a bigger club to be fair.

“Dan Whatsize is still a young lad and there was always going to be a question mark over him. Right now, unfortunately, he hasn't made the number one jersey his own, but he will do. He has a big future but Jason has that experience.”

t King's Lynn's 'Blue and Gold' function room hosts a quiz night on Friday (7.30pm). Organisers are looking for teams of four to enter, cost �2 per person.