Lee Chappell has backed former Saint John Frendo to rediscover his mojo at National League South rivals Hemel Hempstead Town.

Dean Brennan snapped up Frendo this season, ending a two-year, 60-goal stay at Clarence Park.

Frendo’s 42 goals helped St Albans earn promotion from the Southern League but he was a shadow of his former self last season. His goals tally dropped below 30 for the first time in three years as he suffered from playing as a lone striker. By the end of the season, Simon Thomas was the preferred front-man, leading to Frendo’s departure.

His most memorable moment from the campaign came in a game he didn’t even play. The Saints were dumped out of the FA Cup by Concord Rangers but Frendo missed the fourth qualifying round tie to be at El Classico in Madrid, and drew the fans’ anger because of it.

“I think he needed a change,” said Chappell, one of Frendo’s closest friends on the team.

“Last year there was criticism, most of which he brought on himself by missing the FA Cup game, but you can’t knock what he did for the club. Sixty goals in two seasons at any level is incredible.

“He’s moved on to a club where he thinks they’ll get the best out of him. He’d have done himself a disservice by dropping down a level because he can score goals wherever he is.”

He added: “Over the two years, we got a hell of a lot out of him. Maybe there’s a remaining 10 per cent he feels Brennan can get out of him. I think it was a confidence thing. If they can and it works out for him then it was the right move.”