By PADDY DAVITTKing's Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins last night insisted skipper Mark Warren's long term knee injury will not derail the club's Southern League, Premier Division title push.

By PADDY DAVITT

King's Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins last night insisted skipper Mark Warren's long term knee injury will not derail the club's Southern League, Premier Division title push.

Warren is set for surgery that could rule him out for up to eight weeks of Lynn's championship run in. Bobbins revealed the leaders are already in advanced talks over a top class replacement ahead of tomorrow's promotion shoot out at Chippenham.

“We have to work on the assumption that Wazza is out for the season,” said Bobbins. “At present we are actively looking to bring people in. I'm speaking to a player and his representative and hopefully he will be on board by the weekend. We've also put a seven day approach in for another centre half who is a fantastic prospect.”

Knee and hamstring problems restricted Warren to three senior appearances since Christmas, but Bobbins admitted the influential skipper will be sorely missed ahead of match ups against their title rivals this month.

“He's had one of those seasons, but he's a popular lad and you need someone with his presence in the dressing room,” said Bobbins. “Mark is a winner and we want that especially at this stage of the year. Hopefully he can get his knee sorted and still play some part.

“The lad is distraught as you can imagine. He so much wants to do his bit in getting this club to where he feels it belongs. After last weekend's match against Banbury the knee just ballooned up. It was very uncomfortable. He went to see the specialist who confirmed there was a cartlidge tear. The medical people have advised him to go in for an operation straight away.”

Bobbins believes Warren's injury setback can help knit his team mates even closer together over the title run in.

“It can have a galvanising effect,” he said. “The team spirit is already great but if it brings out a little extra in the lads then that can be a positive. They can do it for him - hopefully starting at Chippenham.”

Lynn's chairman also confirmed Warren's injury blow has no impact on the club's hunt for fresh attacking firepower.

“Aside from bringing in a defender if we can by the weekend, we want to fetch in at least one more player by Halesowen,” he said. “We've been speaking to a Conference North club and a football league club about a striker and that has been on the go for the last ten days. It's whether his manager finally makes a decision if he is prepared to let him go.”