Team News

9.20am Thursday 28th January 2010

The Rocks have released three players as they balance the books following Luke Nightingale's arrival.

Strikers Gary Norgate and Dan Bogard and winger Sam Tucknott have all been told they are being let go.

Assistant manager Jamie Howell said the club would rather hold on to the players, but had no choice but to stay in line with an agreed budget.

Nightingale arrived last Friday from Havant, and is on loan until the end of the season.

But the departure of Norgate and Bogard leaves Nightingale and Jason Prior as the only strikers in the squad.

The Rocks will bring in one or two youngsters if they are hit by injuries or suspensions, but say they have no immediate plans to strengthen.

Howell wished all three departing players good luck and thanked them for their service to the club.

In Tucknott's case, he said the youngster wanted to know if he would be playing regularly, and the Rocks couldn't guarantee it.

Norgate also understood the club's need to move players on if they were not first-choice, Howell said.

Bogard is keen to get a trial at a professional club after being released by Pompey. He too has been in and out of the Rocks side.

Howell said: "Letting players go is not something that sits easily with Darin or me, but sometimes it's something you have to do.

"We have financial constraints in place and quite rightly, the club don't want us to spend what we haven't got. Other clubs have done that and have got into difficulties.

"It does leave us with only two strikers, but we would look to bring youngsters in if needs must.

"The way the squad looks now, it is also likely to mean players like Matt Wood and Charlie Oatway will get more games, and that's no bad thing."

The Rocks have no game now until Tonbridge visit the Lane on Saturday week (Feb 6). But they will be in for training on Saturday, as well as their regular midweek sessions

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