Paddy Davitt King's Lynn boss Keith Webb admitted last night losing Cambridge City-bound joint top scorer Michael Frew is a major blow for the cash-strapped Blue Square North club.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn boss Keith Webb admitted last night losing Cambridge City-bound joint top scorer Michael Frew is a major blow for the cash-strapped Blue Square North club.

Frew joined the Southern Premier Division outfit on the eve of Lynn's league trip to AFC Telford today as the financial fall out at The Walks continued following major backer Michael Chinn's recent departure.

“I'm bitterly disappointed because Frewy has been one of our better players,” said Webb. “He had a dip in form the last couple of weeks but prior to that I thought he was our best player. He's a young man with a young family and just in the process of moving into his own house. I think he wanted a little bit more security than we could give him at this minute in time and I'm not going to criticise anybody for that. Kris (Renton) coming in softens the blow for us but obviously he did a good job down that right-hand side. He is a good player and they are hard to replace.”

Webb admitted Frew's departure following the midweek exits of Ben Chapman and Joe Francis caps the lowest point of his managerial spell at The Walks.

“It has been a nightmare period,” he said. “Everybody looks at the team's performance on the pitch and has their own views what should be happening, but obviously in this period there has been more to it.

“What goes on behind-the-scenes stays in house but clearly this has been a trying period - probably the toughest in my football career. I've spoken to one or two others who have been in a similar position and you just have to get on with. It's no good chucking in the towel or throwing your rattle out of the pram.

“I have a job to do and a contract until the end of the season and I'm the sort of person if I give my word them I will continue to do that job.”

Webb revealed Lynn's financial cut backs will also impact on the club's twice weekly training sessions.

“With the situation as it is where players have to come from afar and money is tight, it will be difficult to ask them to take a pay cut and travel twice a week,” he said. “But at this stage of the season they should be fit enough now and we have midweek games coming up so I don't see that as quite the big issue it could have been.

“I'm not worried about the response of the boys. We have got strong characters left in the dressing room - you have to take that into account - and the young lads will need strong characters to see this through. They will play a big part. Kris (Renton) can play a big part and the other young lads who come in have been outside of it a little bit.

“That might just spark a positive reaction around the dressing room. I'm not going to start saying everything is now doom and gloom and making excuses. Players who go out on that pitch will be expected to give 100pc every time and I don't think that will be a problem.”

Webb admits Lynn's best young players will get an earlier than expected chance to impress at senior level. Renton goes straight into Webb's squad after agreeing an initial one-month loan switch from Norwich City. Dominic Dwyer and Ross Kelly also retain their places in the squad. Greg Crane is drafted in after his four-match suspension. Striker Julian Joachim (groin) is a major doubt.

“He'll travel but I wouldn't expect him to be fit,” said Webb. “Undoubtedly we will have to fast-track the young players now and it'll be good to see how they respond. It's not an ideal way to blood them but in some respects people's expectations might not be so high.

“They can go out and express themselves. We know they are good players - Dominic and Ross have already shown that and it's up to them now to take the opportunity.”

Webb insists his new-look squad have nothing to fear against the title-challenging Bucks.

“In some respects it can probably work in our favour playing a top side,” he said. “I've never personally been there but from all the reports it is a good club, a proper football ground, and the players will get a lift as soon as they arrive. That is better than turning up at a place which is not up to standard.

“We had a decent game here over the New Year. There was no quarter given and I thought we did enough to win the game. They obviously need the points for promotion but with the players we've got we'll give as good as we get.”

n Read Mark Hearle's exclusive behind-the-scenes club column every Thursday only on edp24.co.uk /kingslynn