LEE HUNT, Rhyl’s leading goalscorer for the past three seasons, has handed in a transfer request.

The striker insists he wants to quit the Welsh Premier because he feels he gets a raw deal from referees.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Lilywhites during their quadruple-winning 2003-4 season has experienced regular problems with discipline.

This season he has been sent off twice, at home to Neath Athletic and Bangor City, and received six yellow cards.

Rhyl manager John Hulse has made it clear he does not want to lose Hunt.

Hulse said: “He verbally asked me for a transfer last Tuesday. I refused it, so he’s come back with a written request.

“This will now go before the board and will then be circulated to clubs in England. If I had my own way Lee Hunt would be going nowhere. No-one wants him to leave.”

Hunt joined Bangor from Helsby in the summer of 2002 and has gone on to score 90 goals – 71 of them for Rhyl – in 144 Welsh Premier appearances.

Last season he attracted interest from Football League sides Accrington Stanley and Chester City, and was previously a target for The New Saints.

Hunt is included in the squad for tonight’s league match at Newtown (kick-off 7.30pm).

Rhyl’s new striker Marc Lloyd Williams has been given the go-ahead to face his old club at Latham Park, writes Mike McEvoy.

After joining the Lilies 12 days ago from the Robins, it was first agreed the Welsh Premier’s all-time record marksman would sit out the tonight’s game, but discussions since between Newtown manager Darren Ryan and Rhyl chief Hulse mean he is now eligible.

Hulse also welcomes back skipper George Horan after a one-match ban while he is also hopeful central defender Carl Ruffer will have recovered from the flu which ruled him out of the weekend win over Caernarfon.

“We’re hoping as each game comes we can widen the gap between ourselves and the teams below us,” said Hulse, whose third-placed team is chasing a European spot for a fifth successive season.

“If we can pick up three points tomorrow night and against Haverfordwest on Saturday, then there’ll only be 10 games left for the others to catch us.”

Newtown boss Darren Ryan admits his side will need to regroup as they bid to make a swift riposte after a first league defeat of the year at Carmarthen last weekend, writes John Bridgwater.

But the Robins could be short of strike options with forward Craig Moses stretchered off with a knee injury in last weekend’s 2-1 reverse.

Midfielder Glenn Tolley is unavailable, but young keeper Dave Jones is back after representing Wales under-19s. His replacement Ian Havard was sent off after just three minutes against Carmarthen, but despite being a man short the Robins carved enough chances to have gained some reward from the game.

“The players were fantastic, the effort was superb and hopefully, playing 87 minutes with just 10 men in heavy conditions, has not taken too much out of them,” said Ryan. “We’ve now got to regroup and prepare for the Rhyl game.

“We’ve got a few lads carrying knocks while we desperately need to get in another striker which I’m trying to do at the moment.”

Caersws get back into action with a trip to Aberystwyth Town tonight. The Bluebirds have played just twice since the turn of the year and will be keen to get back on the pitch and repeat the recent form that has given them realistic hope of survival.

“Apart from the first five games, we’ve lost just four times in our last 14 games which is good form at any level,” said manager Mike Barton. “If we lose just four in our next 14 then we’ll stay up.”

Aberystwyth are without suspended forward Stuart Roberts and defender Aneurin Thomas. The return of midfielder Bari Morgan after suspension is a boost, while Gavin Cadwallader is also back in the reckoning after two months on the sidelines with a knee problem.

Young defender Henry Goh, formerly of Shrewsbury Town, has also been recruited.