JOEL Caines is the tenth player to commit to Worcester City next season – but Joe Bates is heading for the exit.

Full-back or central midfielder Caines, signed from Stourport Swifts last summer, played 32 times in his maiden City campaign but was disrupted at times by niggling injuries.

He joins contracted quartet Dan Jezeph, Jordan Harrison, Liam Lockett, Ethan Moran and non-contract players Jamie Smith, Luke English, Chris Withington, Levi Andoh and Adam Osbourne in committing for 2019-20.

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Bates was in and out at City at last season but bagged four goals in seven starts and 15 substitute appearances.

Having found first-team opportunities to come by he linked back up for former club Bishop’s Cleeve in the Hellenic League Premier Division – the same level as City’s – firing in five goals in eight starts and eight substitute appearances.

Worcester-based Bates, who is the ninth player to leave City this summer, will link up with Pershore Town.

Callum McFarlane, Jamal Lawrence, James Baldwin, James Lemon, Matt Gwynne, Kyonn Evans and retired pair Sam Gilder and Mat Birley are the others.