STEVE Butterworth is looking to add quality to his squad after seeing key players depart Great Wakering Rovers.

Butterworth, who was named as the permanent player-manager at Burroughs Park in April, has been made to contend with Shad Ngandu, Marcus Milner, Eljay Worrell, Jason Ring and Shomari Barnwell leaving the club since the Isthmian North season came to an end.

But Butterworth is thankful to chairman Dave Patient for helping to bring reinforcements to Wakering.

“Shad and Marcus came to us quite late in the season but they were a big reason for our upturn in form,” said Butterworth, who was originally installed as interim player-manager after Garry Kimble’s departure in January.

“I couldn’t afford to keep Shad. We had agreed a deal with Marcus but then Ryan O’Rawe was named the new manager at Brentwood Town and they usurped our bid.

“We couldn’t go any higher than what we had already offered so we had no option but to let him go to Brentwood.

“The chairman has done everything to give us an extra couple of hundred quid in a bid to bring in the players I want.

“But, in all honesty, where we are located doesn’t help.

“The club has had this problem for years and that’s why they have found it difficult to progress any further.”

While Milner has made the move to Brentwood, Butterworth is expecting Ngandu to return to Aveley.

Worrell is thought to be set to link-up with former Basildon United boss Marc Harrison at Tilbury and Ring has already sealed a switch to Isthmian Premier League side East Thurrock United.

Barnwell, who enjoyed a goal-laden end to the campaign, has earned a transfer to Bishop’s Stortford.

And Butterworth is keen to add goals to his side.

“I am missing one more striker and that is where I am particularly keen to strengthen,” added Butterworth.

“Sham did well for us towards the end of the season and his departure has left us with a shortage of frontmen.

“Martin Tuohy, who is now on my coaching staff, and Tony Martin are staying but if one of them gets injured or suspended then we will have a problem.

“I think we are pretty much covered everywhere else.

“I want to have a small squad as myself, Simon Glover and Martin are all playing as well as coaching.”