Pegasus Juniors manager Mick Panniers on large number of players leaving the club

The Old School Lane outfit will have a very young side in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division, with an average age of about 19.

Jack Lewis and Luke Griffiths have both left to join Wellington, while Cory Hyde is also weighing up his options.

Other departures include Lewis Fletcher and Ashley Lear to Lads Club, while Sam Pearson has linked up with Kington Town during pre-season.

"We've basically lost three quarters of the team, so we're trying to rebuild," said Panniers.

"Some decided to move on and, as a club, we decided that we needed to go down the route of a young side and hopefully keeping them together for two or three years until we can turn them into a quality side.

"This year, our average age is going to be about 19, but that is where we have to go.

"We've kept a couple of our quality youngsters and we're trying to get a young, quality side together.

"It is frustrating to lose experienced players but that is the way football is.

"We will have a tough season, but when I can get everyone together, I think with hard work and commitment, we will be looking to finish somewhere near to what we did last year.

"I'm still working to get players into the club, but I'm pleased with the attitude and positivity of the young lads.

"That is the one good thing about having a young team, everyone wants to play for Pegasus.

"We've also had massive help from Pete Beadle at Hereford who has sent us a couple of players and we're trying to integrate them into the squad with what we've got."

Pegasus lost 4-0 home to Slimbridge last Saturday, which came on the back of an 8-1 thumping by Westfields in the Dennis Hartland Memorial Trophy.

Saturday's match was put back 15 minutes due to some Pegasus players arriving late.

"That has been the story of the first few weeks," added Panniers.

"Some people have let us down and it's a case of getting a squad together.

"I'm not going to lie, it has been difficult, but we're slowly getting there and signing some decent players so come the start of the season we will have 16 to 18 young, but quality players.

"We've had a difficult start, but we have played some quality teams, especially Westfields.

"We've gone down and the only way is to go up and I'm confident that by mid-season we would have picked up a decent squad."

Slimbridge – who had Hereford manage Pete Beadle' son Josh in their squad – scored all of their goals in the first half.

Trialist Sam Turk opened the scoring in the eighth minute after tapping home a rebound before Nathan Payne double the Gloucestershire side's advantage nine minutes later.

The match was effectively over when a whipped cross was glanced home by Henry Birkett in the 31st minute, with Joey Stokes adding a fourth on the stroke of half-time.

To their credit, Pegasus performed better after the break, but the damage was already done in the first half.