CAPTAIN Brad Birch insisted heart and head had been behind his decision to remain at Worcester City – without the need for more money.

The midfielder rejected the overtures of City’s landlords and Midland League promotion rivals Bromsgrove Sporting in order to lead his hometown club’s title quest.

Sporting boss Paul Smith said “Worcester came back with a fantastic deal we cannot compete with” in confirming the deal was dead two weeks ago, a claim Birch refuted.

Two other clubs are understood to have declared an interest in the ex-Stourbridge man but he remains adamant he has “no intention of leaving”.

“I was more than happy to stay. I have a job to do and that is to win the league title with Worcester City, that’s the aim and my reason for being here,” said Birch.

“There is always a possibility of something happening when a club comes in but to be honest, nothing changed in my head or my heart at any point so it felt right for me to stay.

“I had a couple of chats with Paul Smith, I felt like I should do that seeing as he had come in for me but it never got as far as offering deals.

“Worcester did not improve my deal. Quite a few people seem to think they did but that was not the case, things have stayed as they were. Everything else has gone quiet and I have no intention of leaving.”

Asked about Smith’s comments, Birch replied: “I don’t have a bad word to say about Paul. He conducted himself well in trying to get me to sign, he is a top bloke and we left it on good terms. These things happen in football.”

Two suspensions and a troublesome ankle injury have limited Birch to 15 out of a possible 24 appearances to date, a tally he recognises has left him with a point to prove.

“I have not played anywhere near the number of games I should have,” said Birch. “I want to have a good run in the side and to prove my worth.

“I missed four weeks of football but kept myself going by running a lot so I knew I would be on it straight away when I came back against Stourport. I had to make sacrifices and do my own stuff.

“You have a point to prove every time you go out there and I had let the team down by not being there for so long. I wanted to hit the ground running and would like to think I did that.”

The reverse fixture against Stourport Swifts is scheduled for tomorrow (7.45) but freezing temperatures on the back of heavy snowfall could see City kicking their heels for the second time in four days following the postponement of Saturday's trip to AFC Wulfrunians.