Neal Bishop, the inspirational 26-year-old midfielder who has made 47 appearances for Barnet in his first season as a Football League player, has turned down the offer of an improved contract and asked the club to transfer list him.

 

Manager Paul Fairclough said: "Neal has indicated that he wants to leave. The club have made him a very good offer of an improved contract that would have put him in line with Barnet's top players but he has not accepted".

 

Bishop, who played for Fairclough as an England C player when he was with previous club York City, told www. barnetfc.com: "It is the end of the season and I am checking my options".

 

Bishop's season ended, in fact, when he was stretchered off at Accrington Stanley a week last Saturday after heading his second goal for the Bees in a 2-0 win. He was taken to hospital and found to have a knee ligament problem.

 

Bishop, a strong contender for the BFCSA Player of the Year award next weekend, has become a fans' favourite since arriving at Underhill last June.

 

Dennis Signy