Summer clear out
By Adam Summers

Friday 9th May 2008

CLUB captain Simon Weatherstone, defender Justyn Roberts and striker Stuart Douglas have all been released as Weymouth boss John Hollins continues to hold a summer clear out at the Wessex Stadium.

The trio are expected to be followed through the exit door by Nick Crittenden and Trevor Challis, and there is also doubts hanging over the future of Paolo Vernazza.

Hollins said: "Simon Weatherstone, Justyn Roberts and Stuart Douglas have gone, Nick Crittenden has not got back to me, so I assume he has also gone, and we are still talking to Paolo Vernazza and Trevor Challis although I think Trevor will go as well.

"What we are trying to do is get a new squad of players and a fresh look on it all.

"We enjoyed a great finish to the season by going six unbeaten but over the other 40-odd games the results were up and down, and 30-odd of them were before we came in.

"The plan is to get points and ensure we have a team that will make sure we are not in the same position next season as we were towards the end of this season."

Hollins added: "We have not looked as far back as the start of the season, we have just looked at what people have done since we came in and there have been a lot of injuries.

"We want 17 to 18 players that we can pick from every week. At the end of the season we picked up 20 points from our last 19 games which is not bad but to me it is still not good enough."

Hollins, who made Ryan Williams his first summer signing at the beginning of the week, has also held talks with Matt Bailey and Chris Blackburn over possible moves.

The two defenders were drafted in on loan last season and were major influences in the Terras' successful survival bid in the Blue Square Premier.

Hollins said: "Matt has been released by Crewe Alexandra and I have chatted to him and we will look at that again when the time comes. As for Chris, I have spoken to him as well but he also has six other offers.

"But there is no panic. We are only two weeks in and even the play-offs have not finished yet. There will be a fall-out across the country from them and there will be a lot of players looking to get fixed up.

"As well as trying to get the squad we want, we are also looking to put a balance into the club in terms of finances which can be difficult.

"One thing we are certainly not going to do is get the club into a position like it was a year before we came when the players were stuck on two-year contracts and all the money had been blown.

"Instead we are going to be a lot more sensible by building something that is sustainable and that we can add to."

* Kyle Critchell has been called up to the Wales Semi-Pro side for the Four Nations Tournament that will take place later this month.