It's the gr-eight escape!

PAUL Sturrock has revealed as many as eight of his current Town squad could be heading for the exit door as he is forced into drastic measures to meet budget demands.

The Town boss, pictured, invited rival managers and scouts to watch yesterday's behind-closed-doors win against Cardiff, with the fringe players given their chance to impress.

While again stating he hoped three of those departing would be the trio brought in former club suitors BEST Holdings, Sturrock has admitted more belt tightening is needed in a financially unstable environment.

Fears of a repeat of last season's Gareth Whalley scenario have been raised with the triumvirate, but he re-iterated his determination not to let the squad cuts have a detrimental effect on Town's League One push.

He said: "There are managers I have been in touch with, or they have been in touch with me. I have sent out some circulars to a lot of teams and I am very hopeful we get some response.

"The more we can get out on loan the easier the budget gets. There are some who need games, there are some that are not in my plans and there are some that are development players. That is how a football club should be run.

"I have been left in a position where this football club at this minute has no money. So due to the circumstances that have arose lately we have gone dramatically over budget.

"Before I was even asked by the owners I realised I have to do something so I have taken steps to try and find homes for some. I also reiterated I would do nothing detrimental to this squad and the situation we find ourselves in."

Steve Adams and Blair Sturrock were on the scoresheet at the County Ground yesterday, while Michael Pook, Chris Blackburn and Kaid Mohamed were others involved who could be departees.

Hull City loanee Sam Collins is expected to return up north once his loan spell ends on Saturday while foreign trio Ibon Arrieta, Mauro Almeida and Franklin Anzite are also heading out of the club.

Sturrock said: "Ibon, Mauro and Franklin will be in negotiations with this football club to discuss the termination of their contracts.

"At the same time they are attempting through their agents to be put out on a loan basis from this club as well. So they are working very hard to get somewhere to play regular football.

"We are duty bound to pay their contracts, if they don't agree on the sum we would ask them to take. It is a complicated business."

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