No fewer than six players have already departed the Vic Couzens Stadium to follow former boss Graham Drury to Corby Town with another set to follow.

Martin Wormall, Tony Battersby, Robert Hughes, Daniel French, Steve Julian and Adam Jones are those to have moved down the A43 while Stamford have also accepted a cash bid from Corby for striker Leon Mettam.

Keast said: "I don't have a problem with players going and I am not in the least bit surprised about it, but I find the fact they can't look you in the eye and be honest very galling.

"Lads are telling me they want to leave but don't know where they will go - then the next day they wheel up at Corby.

"Wormall went before I got here and Battersby and Hughes then told me they were off before my first game.

"The others have gone since. Steve Julian is going round the houses to get to Corby and I am now assuming Adam Jones has gone as well.

"We have also accepted a bid for Mettam so we will see what develops on that front.

"I am only interested in having lads here who want to play for Stamford and, mark my words, that is what I will get.

"It looks like we have bottomed out now after the departures and it is a case of making additions which we are starting to do."

Keast has been a busy man himself in the two weeks since the first game of his Stamford reign.

He has drafted in defenders Tom Guiney and Jay Bonser, Eastwood midfielder Chris Gray and two new frontman - former Stamford favourite Gareth Pritchard and Alfreton player Andy Tiday.

Left-sided Kettering youngster Ryan Collis has also arrived and all should be involved at Ossett in the Unibond Premier Division tomorrow when new assistant boss Ian Pledger will take his place in the Daniels dugout.

Keast added: "The volume of the departures had an effect and it was essential to bring players in.