INFLUENTIAL coach John Powell could leave Stourport Swifts boss Tim Langford with a potential summer problem.

Langford declared Powell, who heads to the USA at the weekend to take up a coaching job, had been his "best signing".

Powell will be passing on his knowledge to other coaches in the New York area on a full-time basis but is unsure whether the post will last beyond the summer.

Langford said: "John has gained a lot of respect from the players and from the management on and off the pitch.

"He wants to coach full-time and if I could pay him a full-time wage every week I would without a shadow of a doubt.

"He's probably been the best signing I've made. I will have to see what the position is with him sometime in the close season."

Langford was also dealt a personal blow when he injured his hamstring again in a charity match organised in memory of a close friend who died.

Earlier at the weekend, he led Swifts to an excellent 1-1 Dr Martens Western Division draw at Solihull which ended the home team's promotion hopes.

It was a big result for Langford whose team had suffered two disappointing defeats on the long Easter weekend.

But the player-boss is now set to miss the rest of the season although striker Andy Wright is fit to take over and wide-man Richie Gardner could return from a hamstring problem.

Langford said: "It's a question of consistency again for us. That's something we've strived for throughout the season.

"We played better football than Solihull did even we were down to 10 men."

Swifts entertain Mangotsfield on Saturday, who they beat 3-0 away in February, and then high-flying Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Langford added: "I don't think Mangotsfield have lost much since we beat them so that will be a test for us.

"Weston's an even bigger test and it depends whether they still have a chance of getting promoted. We have a score to settle with them though."