NEW manager Carl Abbott confirmed he had not attempted to keep goalscoring brothers Kane, Kye and Cory Simpson at Evesham United.

None of the Bristol-based trio will be returning to the Robins due to the distance they live from the club’s base.

Top-scorer Kane set to join National South newcomers Weymouth with winger Cory lining up a move to United’s league rivals Larkhall Athletic.

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Cory was snapped up last summer and provided nine goals in 22 starts and three substitute appearances before suffering a broken leg in January.

Kye joined shortly after the campaign started and weighed in with five goals in 13 starts and seven stints from the bench.

Kane had already bagged eight goals for Frome Town at the level above Evesham’s before a fall out promoted him to join his siblings and he immediately hit the ground running.

The pick of the trio’s achievements in red and white was notching six between them in a 7-1 demolition of Highworth Town on their own patch on New Year’s Day.

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On the call not to talk terms with the Simpsons, Abbott said: “That was a bit skewed by the projections showing we could be in the Central Division.

“Still, I feel Bristol to Evesham is not a commute I am looking for from the players. I am looking more local – south Birmingham, Stourbridge, Cheltenham, Malvern – just to keep it more manageable.

“I don’t want to sacrifice the training and team ethos we want to build. I feel categorically that Bristol to Evesham is not an option."

Meanwhile, defender Liam Harding will undergo surgery on his troublesome knee before linking back up with United.

“Liam needs a little clean-up operation on his knee. That has probably set him back about six weeks but that is entirely in his best interests,” added Abbott.

“We have had some really good dialogue and there is no rush. He is recovering from a very nasty injury, he was rushed last year and that set him back.

“He will join in during pre-season but we have to work to his timescale. As soon as he is ready he will be back involved because he is a brilliant player.”