​Bath City will have to do without the goalscoring talents of Dave Gilroy during the promotion run-in – as they cannot afford to keep the striker at the club.

Gilroy had scored twice for City since returning to Twerton Park on loan midway through February, including a goal which gave them faint hope of a comeback against Braintree last weekend.

But he has gone back to league champions Newport County, with Stuart Douglas – who was on loan with the Exiles as part of the deal – heading in the opposite direction.

Douglas will be in the City squad for tonight's visit to lowly Lewes (7.45pm).

Boss Adie Britton explained: “We would have liked to keep Dave until the end of the season but Newport said that if he stayed for another month we would have to pay his wages in full and we are not in a position to do that.

“Dave did well for us. He perhaps did not play as many games as he would have liked but the front two [Kaid Mohamed and Darren Edwards] have been doing really well.

“It is too early to say whether we will be looking at Dave again in the summer. Again it all depends on finances and what we can afford.”

Britton does not expect to be able to make any more signings before next Wednesday’s transfer deadline but may recall Richard Evans from his loan spell at Weston-super-Mare after being dealt a double injury blow this week.

Scott Bartlett’s season is effectively over after he was told by doctors this morning that he needs six weeks’ rest after dislocating his shoulder during the 4-2 defeat to Braintree.

Hector Mackie is also struggling with a hamstring injury, with Britton saying the winger could either be back within 10 days or out for the season depending on how it reacts to treatment.

The injuries – plus Mike Perrott’s permanent departure to Frome Town – have left City’s squad looking stretched, a situation not helped by suspensions for Sido Jombati and Mark Badman following recent red cards.

Jombati will miss Saturday’s trip to Basingstoke Town, while Badman will be unavailable for the matches against Worcester City and Staines Town.

“Our discipline has not been too bad this season but picking up those suspensions over the past couple of weeks has been really annoying,” said Britton.

“It is crucial we have as many players to call on as possible and to be without them for ill discipline is very disappointing.

“If people are going to do that sort of thing – get involved when there’s no need – they can leave the football club.”

There was some good news for Britton when Sekani Simpson signed a contract which will keep him at Twerton Park for next season.

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