Histon boss Steve Fallon has revealed talks have broken down over a move for Cambridge City midfielder Josh Simpson.

The clubs have been unable to agree a fee for the 21-year old despite prolonged negotiations.

Fallon believes the City board are understandably keen to avoid selling to their local rivals.

He told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "If you've got a good player, the last team you would want to sell them to is the local team just down the road."

Nevertheless, a number of players have made the move from City to Histon over recent seasons.

Both Danny Naisbitt and Craig Pope crossed the A14 last summer, but this is the first time negotiations have taken place between the two clubs over a player under contract.

Simpson is keen to leave Milton Road following the club's enforced demotion into the Southern League and had agreed personal terms with Histon.

However City subsequently rejected the Stutes final offer for the player, a move Fallon believes was motivated by a desire not to sell to their local rivals.

"Josh was told that the board didn't want to do business unless they have to," he said.

"At this moment in time it's dead in the water and obviously Josh in very disappointed about that."

Lilywhites boss Gary Roberts has laughed off Fallon's claims saying Simpson would be free to move to any side who meet the club's valuation.

"I've never once said to Josh that I didn't want him to go to Histon, it's totally up to him, but the clubs need to agree a fee," he said.

"We're not very far away - they're three quarters of the way there."

However Roberts admitted he was unhappy with Histon's stance.

"Why they need to come up with this now; it's despicable...I can't understand why they are using these little PR tactics to try and muddy the water for us."