ERNIE Howe has decided to let midfielder Toby Sumner and goalkeeper Mark Zawadski go as he bids to free up cash to try to acquire new players.

The Town boss revealed his "inability to bring in a new face has been the most frustrating aspect of the season", and that he has been trying hard again to recruit this week.

Winchester's Matt Bicknell and Lloyd Webber are two players in his sights, but there are complications as they are contracted to the Wessex league division one outfit.

"We'll have to wait and see," said Howe. "It's still very frustrating trying to get players in because we keep hitting snags or getting slapped in the face at the last minute."

Howe confirmed he had to balance the books by letting the duo leave if he wanted to get fresh blood in.

Another factor to his chosen course of action is that he has an eye on next season's squad and needs to reduce "dead wood".

Speaking about his reasons for letting Sumner and "Z" go, he said: "There are a number of things really.

"I feel Z needs to be playing first-team football, while there are other little events that have happened, in games for the reserves and in other areas, that show he hasn't got to grips with the situation at this level."

On injury-plagued Sumner, Howe said: "He's had two nasty knee injuries and operations. He's kept plugging away, but I don't think his body is up to the rigours of competing in the volume of games we have to play.

"When I spoke to him and told him my decision, he said he was frustrated and argued that he hasn't been given a fair crack of the whip.

"I hold my hands up to that, and acknowledge he did play well for us at Newport. But I have watched him in the reserves.

"Anyone who wants to progress from the reserves has to stand out, and we haven't seen that from Toby. Pete Gray has said the same thing."

Howe had nothing but praise for the ex-Aldershot player's attitude during his spell at Basingstoke Town.

"He never once came to me to argue about more money or put pressure on the club to get treatment for his injuries.

"That's what makes decisions like this hard, but I have got to look forward and consider what we need for next season."

Howe is still hopeful new faces will join his other recent signing, David Stroud, who started well on Saturday in the 2-1 defeat at Cambridge, setting up Neville Roach's goal, before fading a bit during the second half.

Howe has been trying since Christmas to bring Stroud to the Camrose, but the left-sided player's hamstring injury and other issues at his club, Swindon Town, enforced a delay.

He said: "It would've been nice to have got him here sooner, but these are the types of issues we've been facing recently and have found hard to overcome.

"He's a young lad on a training scheme at Swindon, so he comes here on work experience and is able to play for us that way.

"I was told he looked sharp at Cambridge, so hopefully he is fully over his hamstring injury and we will get the benefit."