ANDY KING will not necessarily adopt a 'like for like' approach if Tommy Mooney and David Duke choose to pursue their respective careers elsewhere.
The Town boss is still hoping that both players will agree to sign on the dotted line but it won't be a case of looking for identical replacements if they both say 'no' this week.
King has made it clear that a midfielder is his top priority and as the Evening Advertiser exclusively revealed last week, the County Ground boss has already sounded out former Republic of Ireland international Mark Kinsella about a possible move to Wiltshire.
However, that is dependent on the respective decisions of Mooney and Duke. If both sign, that will be that in terms of permanent new additions.
King said: "If they both decide not to stay it won't necessarily be a case of one for one, in finding replacements.
"If Dukesy goes then I might decide I have enough cover in Andy Nicholas and Brian Howard in that area.
"If Tommy goes then it might be that I feel I'm okay with Sam Parkin, Rory Fallon and Lloyd Opara.
"We'll see. But as I said, it isn't a case of just finding the same type of players to fill any gaps that are left.
"I don't want to lose either of them but there are irons in the fire should they choose not to accept. I have spoken to four or five other players."
King has also spoken to several managers about players, particularly in regard to loans, with one of the calls made to Sir Alex Ferguson about an unnamed player.
The fixtures for the 2004-5 campaign are released on Thursday and King insists each member of his squad has the same opportunity to ensure they will be pencilled in for the opening match on August 7.
The manager feels new signings have strengthened his options but the likes of Jerel Ifil and Lloyd Opara start pre-season in the same boat as squad members who struggled to make an impression last year.
King said: "I have thoughts in my mind but it is a case of starting pre-season with a clean slate. I haven't written down my starting XI. Everyone has the same chance.
"We come back on July 5 and I hope all my players will have the hunger to work hard and to make an impression on me."
One player unlikely to be part of King's plans for the new campaign is defender Leigh Mills.
The youngster looks set to complete his move to Tottenham Hotspur on July 1 and the Town boss has revealed that another manager was keen to add the teenager to his squad.
King is good friends with Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Dave Jones and the pair have recently been on holiday together.
Jones is a big Mills fan and the Town boss revealed that the Wolves boss proposed a swap deal not so long ago.
He said: "Jonesy came to watch the boy and offered to exchange him for Adam Proudlock at the time I was looking at bringing him in here.
"As it turned out, it didn't happen as I couldn't afford Proudlock's wages."
Despite being resigned to losing Mills to Tottenham, King feels the youngster would have had a great opportunity of success at the County Ground.
He said: "I still think within 12 months the boy would have been challenging for my first team. He could have been a threat to those already in the side."
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