GRAYS Athletic manager Mark Bentley says he welcomes speculation surrounding his star players after Blues were handed a tough final hurdle in their bid to reach the FA Cup first round.

Grays will host Welling United, of the National League, over the weekend of October 24/25 as they bid to reach the first round of the competition for the first time since 2008.

Dumebi Dumaka scored an injury time penalty to see Grays into the fourth qualifying round, adding to a first half strike from Jay Leader at the lower-ranked Hanwell Town.

The lethal striker, who has netted 13 times in all competitions this season, was linked with a move to West Ham United last week, with local scouts reportedly keen on inviting the forward to Chadwell Heath’s training HQ.

Midfielder Nathan Ferguson has also been linked with a move away and Bentley says he has no problems with the rumours, as it puts the club in the public eye.

“I always want players to go on and become professionals,” he said. “There have been some rumours surrounding our players in recent weeks but I don’t know any more about that than anyone else to be honest.

“DD (Dumaka) is doing really well at the moment and is scoring some important goals for us but I don’t know anything about West Ham interest. Nathan has been linked with Burton Albion in recent weeks as well but it’s news to me. They both have agents so maybe it is their doing. But it is good publicity for the club and the players so it is fine with me.”

The Welling clash will see Grays assistant manager Glen Little come up against the side he left a year ago, after former Grays boss Jody Brown was sacked by the Kent team.

And Bentley says the match is a great chance for his players to make a name for themselves.

“We would have liked a lower ranked team but it wasn’t to be and we head into the match with nothing to fear,” said Bentley. “We know a bit about them and we won’t be favourites which will be slightly strange for us as we are often expected to win the matches we play, but that might work in our favour.

“We are on our own pitch and that will help us so we just have to make sure we exploit their weaknesses and play our game.

“It is a chance for the young players to potentially experience the likes of playing at a Portsmouth or Sheffield United and that is exciting for anyone. The boys are excited about the draw and so am I.

“It was a good game Saturday and I was pleased to get through it in the end and now we are so close to the first round we are all desperate to be there.”

Bentley added a first round appearance and more prize money wouldn’t do the club’s chances of a move back to Grays any harm.

The club is working with Thurrock Council as it bids to return to the town, and Bentley says the more money the club can accumulate the better.

“This club needs a home,” he said. “Getting into the first round would bring in even more money and that can only help. Hanwell Town have a lovely little set-up so a club like Grays, historically a big non-league club, needs a home as well. But the squad is good and we will try and push on in the league and beyond.”