Crawley boss Billy Smith has started his clear-out by showing the door to four players.

Midfielders Jimmy Dack, Dave Harlow and John Ugbah, who missed most of the season through injury, have been released along with striker Steve Restarick who finished the season on loan at Hastings Town.

More may follow next week as Smith starts planning another bid for the Dr Martens League title.

Smith said: "All the players have done okay but we came up short and I have to look at the areas where I can improve the team."There's no pressure financially, but if I want to bring players in then I have to release some as well."

Smith is biding his time before bringing in new faces. He is well aware that hundreds of professionals are likely to be looking for new employers at the end of May as league clubs trim their staffs in the wake of the ITV Digital collapse.

But he has made one new signing this week after capturing Horsham YMCA's highly-rated young defender Ellis Hooper.

The 20-year-old, who helped Sussex win the South Western Counties Championship at the weekend, is expected to sign a one-year contract after impressing when Crawley played YM in the Floodlight Cup semi-final last month.

"I've watched him two or three times and he has always done well," said Smith. "He was in our youth team before I came here and I have heard lots of good things about him."

Crawley have already arranged four pre-seaon friendlies, three against league opposition. They face Albion on July 20 (3pm), Brentford on July 23 (7.45pm), Canvey Island on August 3 (3pm) and Crystal Palace on August 6 (7.45pm).