WORCESTER City boss John Barton had some tough thinking to do when he put both Mark Tucker and John Deakin on the transfer list.

No-one likes losing players from a squad, but at least in Barton's case the departure of both players will help free his hand to strengthen the side in certain areas.

There is no doubt in both cas-es financial considerations may have been a factor - both were under contract until the end of next season and were believed to have been among the highest wage earners on the staff.

Defender Tucker's listing was a surprise in some quarters as he had been a regular and key member of the side since he joined from Kettering Town early last season.

However, he had not been at his best early in the season and the return of Chris Green-man from a long injury absen-ce has given Barton another defensive option.

In addition, Tucker's wife has just given birth and the travelling from his Northampton home was proving less and less convenient to him.

But Martin Weir's injury has given Tucker a chance to win back his place, and to be fair he has put everything into both of his games since.

Barton said of him: "He is certainly not the sort of player to go missing.

"He will be there to do well for the team."

The listing of Deakin was not so much of a surprise.

The former Kidderminster Harriers midfielder had not really established himself des-pite a handful of important goals last season, and his only start to date this season was in the disastrous 4-1 defeat at Merthyr Tydfil.

He is now on a month's loan at Evesham United, where several of his former Harriers colleagues are currently playing, and there must be a good chan-ce of that becoming permanent.

Barton said: "That is what Phil Mullen has indicated, but let's see how the month goes and it may develop further.

"It is an opportunity for him to get regular first-team football."