Corby Town manager Graham Drury has admitted that it was not an easy decision to release defender Joe Wilcox or midfielder Karl Dimidh, just two weeks before the new Blue Square Bet North campaign.

"It is with a heavy heart that I've made the decision to let Karl and Joe go.  They are top lads and we've put the word out to a few clubs and recommended them in the hope they soon get fixed up." 

Wilcox joined the Steelmen from Buxton in March this year, finishing the season as the club's first choice right-back. Dimidh arrived at Steel Park at the start of pre-season from Borrowdash Victoria but has fallen down the pecking order following the arrival of Nick Rogan from Fleetwood Town last week. 

"Joe has done well for us and I'd love to be able to afford to keep him on and see him progress. He had a mixed run of it last season when he first joined but he's done all he could to push for a shirt this time, I just feel that there are other more experienced players who provide us with more options and that's not something Joe can really influence. We have had a good chat and I explained everything and we part on good terms and will keep an eye on how well he does.

Despite releasing the young striker, Drury admits that the door is being left open for Dimidh to possibly pull on a Corby Town shirt again in the future.

"The players we're releasing at this stage aren't leaving because they aren't good enough, they just aren't right for what we need right now but it doesn't mean they won't be in the future."

"It is probably a year too early for Karl to make what is quite a big step. We'll certainly continue to monitor how he does too and I've said if he gets fixed up with a club who train on different days to us he'll always be welcome to come down and join in. We had a decent conversation and he's naturally disappointed but he knew with Rogs coming in it would make things difficult. He's a centre forward and I've not really given him the chance to show what he can do in pre-season in that position."

"We have four strikers now who I think will be a real handful at this level. The three lads coming in Rhead, Rogan and Jordan Smith have shown a glimpse of the players we think they are going to be and we're beginning to see what a fit Gregg Smith can do after he netted a hat-trick on Saturday. Those four lads have just edged Karl but we'll keep in contact with him and see what he does this year with a view to reviewing things in 12 months time.

"He's certainly got something and his effort and workrate has been very high so we hope, like Joe who we understand is signing for a club tonight, that he soon gets himself sorted with a club."