Briscoe gone after two games

Striker Louis Briscoe has joined the player exodus at financially stricken Stafford and three are set to follow him out of Marston Road.Briscoe - who only made two appearances for the club - has joined Ilkeston Town. Rangers' boss Steve Bull has also confirmed interest in Bobby Wilson, Stuart Pierpoint and Jake Moult. Carl Palmer and Dave McPherson have left already.

All six started last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Vauxhall Motors and, with three confirmed to have left, the big picture of the trouble the club are in with their playing staff is perilously clear.

Bully's hands are tied in the matter, at least until he gets his players in for training tonight.

He said: "I don't blame the players that want to leave. They have a right to safeguard their own livelihood and no one will play for nothing. It is not a case of them jumping ship, they have to protect themselves.

"If I asked you to change jobs for half your salary for the same work, would you do it?"

Bully will have a lot to say tonight to his contracted players, who have seen their wages halved. He hopes to lay down the rules of their departure, assuming they want to leave, so it is as seamless a transition as is earthly possible.

The non-contract boys, such as Mark Magee and Tim Sandercombe, are within their rights not to turn up.

The manager said: "I will tell the players tonight that, if they want to leave immediately, I need for them to do so by the time the weekend is out. I will then have another training session on Tuesday.

"Anybody here on Tuesday night will be told that they will not be allowed to leave until after we have played at Farsley on Saturday week. As a manager, I need to have us prepared for that game."

The Stafford boss has tried to get some clarification on what he will have to rebuild the squad at Marston Road, even submitted a revised playing budget to the board.

Bully now anxiously awaits an answer.

He said: "I have put a revised budget to the board and I am waiting an answer from them. If they agree to that, at least I have a benchmark and can start thinking about putting a competitive squad together.

"If the six players leave, it would massively help the wage bill, but would obviously make the squad a lot weaker."