St Neots Town have agreed deals with two fellow Southern League Premier Division clubs for transfer-listed defender Tom Ward.

The former Saints skipper’s availability was circulated earlier this week and he could be set for a quick exit from the Premier Plus Stadium.

King’s Lynn Town (who recently bought winger Ryan Hawkins from St Neots) and Hayes & Yeading (who won 5-1 at St Neots last Saturday) are the two teams battling to land the 26 -ear-old centre-back.

Saints manager Andy Davies explained: “Tom has been sent off twice this season, which is something I found unacceptable for my skipper.

“I took the captaincy away from him recently and I don’t really now see him getting into my first-choice back four.

“Given the fact he is one of the biggest earners and on contract, I felt it was right to put him on the transfer list. I think it has come to the end of the road for Tom and St Neots Town.

“I’m in discussion with King’s Lynn and Hayes & Yeading, and we have agreed a fee with both clubs. It is now just a case of how quickly we can move things forward.

“Based on Tom’s performances from when I took over in January, he was the only man I could see as my captain for this season.

“But it is not a role that suits everyone and with the benefit of hindsight, it was not the right decision.”

It is understood that Davies now sees Tom Wood and Taylor Parr as his preferred central defensive duo, while he drafted in another centre-back, Dan Gleeson, as player coach last week.

Ward’s last appearance for Saints was in an FA Trophy replay defeat against Marine on November 15. He was one of three players sent off on that night and five from the club to see red during the course of the fractious tie.

He is still serving the subsequent four-match suspension, but the other men to be dismissed are now all available again.

Defenders Wood and Miles Smith sat out the defeat against Hayes & Yeading last Saturday, but returned for a 1-1 draw against Cirencester on Tuesday night.

Striker Sam Mulready and wideman Nassim L’Ghoul are available again from tomorrow, when Saints travel to Stratford.

But one man who won’t feature is midfielder Rogan McGeorge. He faces a spell out after playing through the pain of a knee problem in recent weeks.

Saints remain in the Premier Division relegation zone, but are just one point from safety with games in hand on several of the teams above them.