GRAHAM Kemp has claimed three players from the team he built at Christchurch have committed to join him at new club Winchester City.

Contrary to initial statements made by new Priory boss Michael Cuffie, Kemp says the unnamed trio are set to follow him to the Denplan City Ground.

And while the door is open for more to follow, Christchurch’s most successful manager says he does not expect many more to join his City revolution, but suggested Cuffie’s comments may have been “naive”.

Following his appointment at Hurn Bridge, which was exclusively revealed by the Daily Echo on Wednesday, Cuffie targeted winning the Wessex League title at the first attempt and said “not one of the players is prepared to move for Kempy” when asked if he feared an exodus to Winchester.

But Kemp, who led Christchurch to their best finish – third in the Wessex Premier for the past two seasons – says he is taking a measured approach in recruiting his former charges and that all managers should tread carefully with player promises at this time of year.

Kemp told the Daily Echo: “The comments are probably a bit naive because some players will go to a meeting and tell him (Cuffie) one thing then come and tell me what went on. No doubt there will be players who will go and tell Mike what we have discussed as well.

“Players will look after themselves, he has been in football long enough to know that and so have I.”

On signing his former Christchurch stars, Kemp added: “I didn’t want to go in like a bull in a china shop so, after an initial week’s grace, I contacted all of the players and said if they wanted to join me at Winchester to let me know. Since then, three have committed to sign for me next season.

“I don’t wish to divulge who they are because they want to tell Christchurch themselves. I don’t think there will be any more because, if they were keen, they would have let me know by now. I made a conscious effort not to contact any player more than once if they didn’t show a definite interest.

“It might be that those players joining come to a few training sessions and decide it is not for them while others may still call and ask about coming over. It is still only May and there is always a lot of movement in pre-season.

“At Wessex League level, where you play has to suit your lifestyle and I fully understand not everyone wants to do the travelling. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea even if there is a pay packet at the end of it.

“We’re only going to take players who will enhance Winchester’s side. I have made some good friends at Christchurch and I won’t get lads to drive from Bournemouth to Winchester just to sit on the bench and fall out inside six weeks.”