CHRIS LAKEY Former Norwich midfielder Phil Mulryne has been released by King's Lynn.Linnets boss Keith Webb spent the week mulling over a dilemma and in the end erred on the side of financial caution, deciding instead to sign 32-year-old Ben Sedgemore until the end of the season.

CHRIS LAKEY

Former Norwich midfielder Phil Mulryne has been released by King's Lynn.

Linnets boss Keith Webb spent the week mulling over a dilemma and in the end erred on the side of financial caution, deciding instead to sign

32-year-old Ben Sedgemore until the end of the season.

Mulryne, a former Northern Ireland international who is 30 today, was playing on a non-contract basis with Lynn, for whom he made five appearances.

"I just felt that Ben had a little bit more to offer King's Lynn than Phil did," said Webb. "Phil is a good player, no doubt about that, and he has great qualities - he can pass the ball better than anyone else in our team.

"But with the finances as they are, I needed to make a decision on what was best for us as a non-league club. I think Phil is probably aiming higher. We are a part-time outfit trying to go up the leagues and possibly go full-time. If in the future we could go full-time then we would look at a similar situation in a different light."

Sedgemore has a wealth of professional experience, having played for Mansfield, Lincoln and Macclesfield and more recently has played for Conference South side Havant & Waterlooville as well as his last club Chelmsford City, who he left at the end of October.

"He has a bit of presence in the middle," said Webb. "He can tackle, he can head the ball, he can pass the ball."

It was Sedgemore who salvaged a point for Lynn at the weekend when he scored a last minute goal in a 2-2 home draw with Hemel Hempstead.

And while it meant Lynn remain just two points clear of Chippenham going into the New Year's Day fixture - and the mid-point of the campaign - at home to Bedford Town this afternoon, Webb is happy to have his nose in front.

"At the moment, yes, I'm happy with what we are achieving," he said. "If you'd said at the start of the season we'd be top of the table then of course I'd accept that. We have dropped points as you would expect of any team, but we are working hard and we just have to keep pushing on now."

Lynn have stuttered a little over the Christmas period, conceding first in each of their three games - a 1-1 home draw against Mangotsfield, a 3-1 win at bottom club Cheshunt and then Saturday's draw at home to Hemel.

"We gave away two silly goals in a mad 90 seconds," said Webb. "We didn't play too badly, we had chances, but we just couldn't get them into the back of the net. I am disappointed we didn't take all three points but I'm not too disappointed to get just the one."

This afternoon's clash against Bedford is the first between the two this season, but Webb has warned his players again that teams will be visiting The Walks looking to take away a scalp.

"It is a difficult one because whenever a team comes to our place they are motivated by facing a team top of the table - we are there to be shot down," said Webb. "We are playing some good football at the moment. In the early part of the season I was being criticised because we weren't playing so well and we were winning. Now there are a few groans because we're playing well and drawing. But I accept that."

Webb welcomes back Andrew Fisk from a one-match ban, but has concerns over Mark Warren, who suffered a tight hamstring on Saturday, and Michael Frew, who has a niggling thigh strain.

Lynn squad (from): Howie, West, Turner, Chapman, Warren, Melton, Crane, Camm, Frew, Sedgemore, Defty, Bloomfield, Francis, Nolan, Lake, Murray.