BRIAN Howard brings an end to his Town career today and warns that he won't by the last man to leave the County Ground this summer.

The 22-year-old will be unveiled as one of three new signings by Barnsley at a noon press conference after rejecting Swindon's offer of a new contract to pen a lucrative two-year deal at Oakwell.

Howard believes as many as half a dozen players will follow him through the exit door as Town struggle to compete with the contracts on offer from many of their League One rivals.

With Matt Heywood and Grant Smith on their way to Bristol City, Sammy Igoe and David Duke considering other offers and Sam Parkin in the shop window for the right price, Howard feels that manager Andy King faces a massive rebuilding job before the new campaign begins.

And such uncertainty over what Town's playing personnel will look like next term was a major factor in his decision to move to Yorkshire.

He said: "Even if Swindon had come back to me saying they had the money to match Barnsley's offer I don't think I would have stayed.

"I'm just not sure what the future would have held at the club."

Howard scored 10 goals in 83 appearances and was capped by England at under 20 level.

He joined Town on a free from Southampton two years ago opting to join despite attention from Chelsea and proved a key figure in midfield before falling out of favour at the turn of the year.

And while it pains him to say it, the Oakwell-bound winger advises Town fans to brace themselves for a mini-exodus and a tough season ahead.

He added: "I'm sure I won't be the last player to leave this summer because I know a lot of the other lads are thinking the same way seeing all these players looking like leaving the club. Five, six or seven decent players could be on their way out and they will be very difficult to replace.

"The club haven't got the money to bring many new faces in and it will be tough to attract the right quality of player with competition from other clubs. It's going to be very hard for them."