More new arrivals expected before Barnet clash, says Exiles boss

Winger Compton has been a bit-part player since Westley took charge but central midfielder Tozer has been an ever-present when fit.

Westley has previously lavished praise on Tozer, describing him as a “Championship player” on several occasions, but he has now decided that he can do without the 26-year-old.

“Ben Tozer has been told he can leave the club,” said the Exiles boss.

“There are conversations going on with Ben but things are only done when they are done.

“Managers have views on players,” he explained. “Louis Van Gaal thought that [Memphis] Depay was for him [at Manchester United]; [Jose] Mourinho thought that Depay wasn’t for him.

“Different managers want different ingredients at different points in time.

“Ben has played a part since I’ve been here. The window is open and I’ve told him that he can leave.

“I’ve got a view that as we go forward he’s not going to play the part in my plans that he’s played in the past.

“That’s it. There’s no great story to be told.

“Compton (above) has been told he can go as well,” added Westley.

“There’s a few lads who are aware that they’re not going to be playing a part in what we do going forwards.

“And at their age, in their situation, the best thing is that they find somewhere else to play their football because in the end footballers want to be playing football.

“It’s time for change, I want to shake things up and I want different ingredients around the place.”

Westley has already added 10 players to his squad, and released seven, since the transfer window opened on January 1.

But he is close to signing two more players this week and more business is likely towards the end of the month.

“Talks are ongoing with two lads in particular who might join us before Saturday,” he said.

“It’s complicated a little bit now by the number of loan signings that we’ve made because I don’t want to get into a situation where I overburden us with loans and I’m going from game to game thinking ‘I can’t use him because I’ve already got five involved’.

“I’ve got to try to negotiate deals so that we can use everybody that we’re bringing in.

“So it’s not as simple as it might appear to bring players in now.

“But talks are ongoing and there’s a couple who may well come through before the weekend.

“They’re not conversations with a view to affecting the team for the weekend, I wouldn’t have thought, because a lot of lads did themselves good last week.

“And we had [Mickey] Demetriou and Alex Samuel play 90 minutes in the reserves in in midweek, so they’re closer to contention.

“So we’ve already got boys that we’ve brought in edging towards selection and anybody who comes [before Saturday] may well make the 18 but won’t affect the starting XI at the weekend with players having done well.”

He added: “It’s all about making sure that players who come in are hungry, that they have something to play for and there’s no comfort zone created.

“In the situation we’re in you need people who are hungry and fighting their next contract and that club’s situation.

“That’s really important – that the players who are here want to be here and are incentivised to be here.”

Asked about further signings, Westley said: “I think there’s still some [more] work to be done.

“We’re obviously looking to move lads out and as we move them out there will be more funds created.

“I plan to use that as the window closes.

“There will be some good quality, experienced lads as we get to the end of the window – people who we can’t attract at this moment in time.

“But as things start to shut down and options become more limited we will become an option that some of these good players will take.

“They’ll need somewhere to go and play their football and, our situation being what it is, we won’t be the most attractive but it will become attractive as the window goes on.

“So I’m definitely going to keep my eyes open and I’ve got a lot of wheels turning in terms of bringing one or two more in before the window closes.”