AFTER losing 13 members of their squad last week, where on earth do Grimsby Town's bosses start their rebuilding project for next season?
At my reckoning, the release of eight out of contract players and return of the five loanees leaves Paul Hurst and Rob Scott with only 12 men.
And those remaining include just one keeper, one centre-half and two central midfielders.
It was great to hear that skipper Craig Disley and sole centre-back Shaun Pearson have signed new deals, but the gaps in the Mariners' current line-up are frightening.
Depending on who on you believe, the bosses have been hit with either a "slight" or "substantial" drop in their playing budget for next season.
Without last year's £700,000+ windfall thanks to Ryan Bennett's move to Norwich City – and well done to John Fenty for negotiating probably the best deal in football history – Town are understandably having to cut their cloth accordingly.
As a result, those of us expecting a relatively quiet summer at Blundell Park, with three or four quality additions in key areas, were in for a shock.
True, the likes of Greg Fleming, Louie Soares, Simon Ford, Frankie Artus and Greg Pearson were fringe players at best this season.
But the departure of the experienced Ian Miller, former Youth-teamer Bradley Wood and battling Derek Niven, raised a few eyebrows.
It therefore appears likely that the Mariners will head into the new campaign with a much-reduced squad – in terms of numbers at least.
At times this campaign, Scott and Hurst had a row of senior pros sitting in the Main Stand at BP unable to make the match-day 16.
That is unlikely to happen next time around, with a squad of around 18 appearing to be the answer.
Whether the bosses choose to roll the dice and go with just one keeper for the season remains to be seen.
But reinforcements in all other areas of the pitch – apart from attack – are essential.
Maybe the versatile Tom Naylor could be an option after his successful loan spell in Cleethorpes, providing options at centre-half, centre-midfield and full-back.
Elsewhere, former loanee Scott Neilson issued a 'come and get me plea' in the Telegraph last week, but the wideman could yet be ruled out due to his wage demands.
The likes of central midfielder Scott Kerr and winger Matty Blair – both released by York – have also been linked with Town, and would fit the bill in terms of position and reputation.
There will be many more names bandied around over the next two months and plenty of wheeling and dealing to come.
So, buckle up – it's going to be another 'interesting' summer at Grimsby Town.
