BILLERICAY Town manager Craig Edwards insists he is not losing any sleep after the departure of three key players earlier this week.

George Beavan, Glenn Poole and Jordan Cox left for Tonbridge Angels, Thurrock and Maidenhead United respectively, following the exit of Mike Fondop the week before.

But Edwards says he feels the quality in his squad is already more than up to the task of filling the void.

“I would have liked to have kept them but I am not losing sleep over it,” said Edwards. “Alex Stephenson is a readymade replacement for George and it is his natural position anyway. George was a left back I moved to centre-back and he got a good offer.

“I talked George into coming here and we got three good years out of him and he has gone but Alex is a more than able replacement.

“He has the potential to play at a high level in the future.

“A lot of the supporters are concerned when we lose players but I don’t mind betting they would have heard of any of them, aside from Pooley, before I brought them in.

“Glenn is 35 and anyone who has played and gone into management knows when to look at other things. We have replacements here.”

However, Edwards admits he will have to replace Cox, who hit the back of the net 10 times in 15 appearances after joining from Braintree Town in the National League.

“Jordan we will have to replace,” he said. “I had no optimism of keeping him as he came from the National League and I don’t know if we would have held onto him had there not been a month of the season left (after his initial three-month deal expired at the start of April).

“I was delighted with his contribution. He got 10 in 15 games and that is a good record for any striker. He would miss a hatful one game and then score a hat-trick in the next so he is not consistent but he is prolific and will always score goals. I am sorry to see him go.”

“We need an out and out goal scorer. Tom Derry gave us work rate and a fair return but we are missing that player who takes responsibility.

“So I am working to bring someone in.”