With manager Steve Chettle (pictured) doing the bulk of his summer work early, the club has an excellent platform to go into pre-season.

The club have announced that Nathan Watson, Jack Thomas and Brad Gascoigne will not be offered deals for the new campaign.

Basford chairman Chris Munroe told the club`s website: “It's always sad to let players and great servants go, but for differing reasons we have taken this decision.

"Defensively, we are aware of some excellent players who will likely be released from the National League, so we have taken this decision with the intention of bolstering via identified defensive targets in the coming weeks.”

Munroe added: "The club is operating under such uncertainty with regard to all levels of football currently with regard to the pandemic. Therefore, it is prudent to take the actions necessary to ensure any prolonged continuation and delay to the new season will be no risk to the club whatsoever. However, not many clubs will have been as active as us at this stage of late Spring, so we are excited and the two more defensive reinforcements we sought are moving along well."

Basford’s retained/signed list stands at 17 excluding any academy prospects who also may force their way into Steve Chettle pre-season plans.

Those signed/retained are: Kieran Preston, Ryan Wilson, Stef Galinski, Dom Roma, Lewis Carr, Callum Chettle, Matt Thornhill, Kyle Dixon, James Tague, James Carvell, Marcus Marshall, Ashley Worsfold, Coury Grantham, Niall Towle, Rev James, Kane Richards and Wayde Hines.

Chettle said: “We are planning for next season under extreme uncertainty.

"Like most clubs, we are trying to build a squad to continue on last season's successes, but it also comes with comings and goings. Nat, Jack and Brad all played their part during the season, but mutually we have decided to move onto a new challenge, and we wish them all the best and thank them for their efforts last season.

"It is almost impossible to make everybody happy in a competitive squad and sometimes we don't get deals over the line that we would have liked to. These things happen in football and will continue to do so all around the country.

"I have spoken to all the players today to see how they are coping in these strange times and checked that they have received their offseason schedule in order to come back into pre-season when it is safe to do so. All the lads have said that they have been keeping active and can't wait to get back together”.