TERRAS defender Ryan Cross and attacking midfielder Kevin Parker have today joined the exodus from the Wessex Stadium by signing for Weston-super-Mare.

The out-of-contract duo have been snapped up by Frank Gregan,

manager of the ambitious Dr Martens Western Division club who only just missed out on promotion last season.

Terras boss Geoff Butler, who was already resigned to losing Plymouth-based Cross after he would not agree to a condition that he train twice a week at Weymouth next season, said the departure of the 22-year-old Parker had not come as a surprise.

"Kevin also lives in Plymouth and was travelling up with Ryan," said Butler today. "When Ryan decided to go elsewhere I knew the writing was on the wall for Kevin.

"I made it clear to the lad that I

wanted him to stay but travelling was obviously a problem," he added.

"Unfortunately we can't afford to make it worth players' while travelling the distances any more.

"We could have retained him under the Bosman ruling because he is under 24, or we could have asked a fee for him. But to do that I would have had to give him the same money as he was on last season and I don't have the luxury of being able to do that. To be fair, the lad is a bit of an unknown quantity to me because I haven't seen him play. I am told he could be a match-winner on his day, although he is a bit lightweight when the grounds get heavy.

"He phoned me to say he was joining Weston - although he said he didn't really want to leave Weymouth. I wished him well and said he had to do what he felt was right for him."

The pacey Parker was signed for the Terras by Fred Davies early last

season after being released by Torquay United.

Established

He took some time to become established in the first team but then sprang to prominence with two goals at Havant and Waterlooville in a 3-2 defeat in March.

Weston boss Gregan said he was delighted to have signed the pair. "I have been interested in Ryan for a long time and tried to bring him here on loan last season. But at the time he decided to stay with Weymouth which I thought was very loyal," he said.

"Kevin is another player whose progress I have followed since he was with Torquay and I regard him as a fine prospect."

Former Magpie Cross said he was looking forward to the new challenge, although he admitted that ideally he would have preferred to stay with Weymouth. "No disrespect to Weston but Weymouth are the biggest non-league club in the area bar Yeovil," he said. "Unfortunately no-one seems to know what is happening down there until the contracted players are sorted out.

"I couldn't keep holding on in case other clubs make their signings and I then find they have used up their

budgets.

"But the training thing was the main stumbling block. It's a long way to come up twice a week from Plymouth and at the end of the day I would have been getting less money to work longer and it wasn't viable.

"I have enjoyed my time at Weymouth and I hope I'm leaving on good terms. I would like to thank the fans and directors who have always been great to me."

Butler said after speaking to the seven contracted players who had been asked to take a 30 per cent pay cut, he had now written to them setting out the facts and figures of the deal he was offering them.

"At the moment all the balls are still in the air - but I have given them a deadline for their response because I am going on holiday next month and I need to sort things out before then," he added.