WEYMOUTH chairman Chris Pugsley has quashed speculation surrounding star striker Stewart Yetton with a possible return to Truro City.

Yetton opened his pre-season account at home against Yate Town in the Terras' second warm up contest on Saturday, notching the opener after 43 minutes in a 2-0 win.

Truro boss Steve Tully told the Cornish press that “he (Yetton) wants to come to us but the ball is in his court and we are looking for alternatives” when commenting on his attempt to lure the Tigers’ legend, who has one season left of a two-year deal with Weymouth, back to Treyew Road.

And while Terras' chief Jason Matthews insisted his clinical frontman was “not for sale” late last month, Pugsley has spoken out to back up his manager’s claims.

He told Echosport: “Jason was approached by Truro to ask if they could speak to Yetts and, naturally, we wouldn’t stop any player speaking to another club.

“Naturally, Yetts would be reasonably interested in Truro having been there before. They train on his doorstep, are in a higher league, and they would probably up his money.

“But on the other side, Yetts tells us if we don’t want him to go he is not going.

“We did receive an offer from Truro for Yetts which was nothing like he is worth and they knew it. Consequently, Jason and myself met with Stewart and we are talking about an extension to his contract for another year.

“Stewart told us that there was no way, if we didn’t want him to go, that he was going to break his contract and leave us.”

Asked how important it is that Yetton lines up as a Weymouth player on the opening day of the campaign next month, the Terras' chairman claimed: “It’s essential.

“We have built our team and our strategy around him.

“He is a big part of Jason’s plans and, with him as captain, they are all a team along with Sillsy (assistant manager Tim Sills) and the rest of the coaching staff.

“Jason has been looking for strikers of quality for three or four months and people who can put the ball in the net around 30 times a season aren’t about, so if we got rid of Stewart Yetton where would we find someone to replace him? He’s a legend.”

And commenting on the possibility of securing one of the club’s key assets on a fresh two-year deal, Pugsley was hopeful that it’s just a matter of time before skipper Yetton signs on the dotted line.

“We are talking to him now and have told him he can have a further year on his contract if he wants it,” the chairman added.

“We are just looking to put pen to paper really and agree it.”

Meanwhile, one man who has re-signed with the club for next term is midfielder Steve Colwell, who manager Matthews revealed has penned a dual registration deal but will mainly still feature for Plymouth Parkway.

Matthews said: “Steve has signed on a dual registration.

“Obviously his main club will be Plymouth Parkway but he needed some minutes and with Chris McPhee out it gave us a valued body on Saturday.

“We are pleased to have him around as much as possible.”