IT was another quiet day at Spytty Park yesterday, with three more first team players axed and four players signing, with the possibility of another striker to be added today.

Ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup trip to Dorchester, the Exiles have released trio Kevin Stephens, Anthony Church and Dave Collins, meaning all of boss Dean Holdsworth’s signings from former side Redbridge have now been given the boot.

Defenders Paul Bignot and Justyn Roberts arrive on short-term loan deals with a view to permanent transfers, along with striker Craig Reid.

Captain Ashley Vickers has also joined the Exiles on a deal until the end of the season from Eastleigh, meaning he will lead the side in Dorset.

The news comes a day after the County board decided to sack central defender and club captain Ian Hillier, who will miss the rest of the season with a broken leg sustained at work. Hillier’s dismissal begins a lengthy process of appeal that could ultimately lead to legal action with the PFA helping Hillier.

It takes the total number of players released by the Exiles this term to eight, Hillier following Paul Keddle, Stephens, Church, Nick Skelton, Collins, Nicky Church and Jamal Easter through the exit door.

The Argus understands that the Exiles are annoyed at the premature announcement of Phil Walsh’s potential loan move to Tiverton Town (revealed on the Tiverton website), as any deal for the summer capture is dependent on Holdsworth landing another front man.

After another fraught day of negotiations, the manager explained his mixed feelings on the transfer merry-go-round.

The Argus understands that the boss wanted to keep defender Stephens, but the decision was made at board level that it wouldn’t be possible to pay the travel expenses to just one player from the London area, which included an overnight stay for home games.

On the subject of the departures, Holdsworth explained: “They were three of the hardest phone calls I have ever had to make, which I seem to be doing a lot at the moment.

“As the manager I have tough decisions to make and I can’t thank the lads enough for their efforts. That is football, but it was a hard thing to do.”

The new arrivals signal better news for Holdsworth who was not involved in the decision to axe Hillier, as revealed by the player himself.

Bignot, 22, the younger brother of well travelled league striker Marcus, is a right-back/central defender, currently with Kidderminster Harriers after coming through the famous academy at Crewe Alexandra.

Roberts, also 22, joins from Rushden and Diamonds and is described by Holdsworth as an ‘agile central defender.’ The former Nottingham Forest trainee played 20 games last season in the Conference with Weymouth.

Striker Reid, 19, a striker, signs from Grays Athletic after a YTS spell with hometown club Coventry City.

Holdsworth explained: "These signings aren’t spur of the moment, they are players we’ve been chasing for a few weeks, Reid since pre-season.

"We are keen to sign players from a higher level if we can and feel confident that these players can boost us significantly."

The Argus understands that Holdsworth is keen to swoop once more, with another striker being targeted.

The deal is complicated by the fact that the player – who we have been asked not to name – currently plays abroad.

Holdsworth admits FA Cup success could go a long way to lifting the gloom at Spytty Park, particularly in light of Hillier’s departure, which generally hasn’t gone down well with the fans.

"It’s been a really hard week for the fans, the result and performance last weekend was awful and Ian was a hugely popular player at the club," he said.

"Hopefully we can give them all a lift, that is the aim."

County (from): Thompson, James, Jenkins, Giles, Colborne, Bignot, Roberts, Vickers, Evans, Rose, Cooper, Hall, Davies, Harris, Leek, Hartland, Walsh (maybe), Hughes, Reid, Duffy, AN other (maybe).