Tooting & Mitcham boss Billy Smith has swiftly moved to calm fears over the future of hotshot striker Paul Vines by insisting he will remain at Imperial Fields.

Vines appeared for Yeovil in a friendly at Potters Bar last week as part of a week-long trial at the League One club.

But the Terrors chief remains convinced his future lies with Tooting.

Smith said: "I don't think he's going to go.

"By his own reckoning he did not do very well in the friendly.

"When we did our deal with Paul we said that if a league club came in for him we would not stand in his way, but we are not going to let him leave for a non-league club.

"But he didn't shine against Potters Bar so I expect him back."

Tooting got their own pre-season schedule underway at the weekend when an experimental line-up slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Godalming.

But Smith was unconcerned.

He added: "It was just a case of looking at what we have.

"The result did not really matter to be honest.

"It wasn't a bad workout and will help our fitness levels."