TROWBRIDGE Town's pre-season preparations have been disrupted by the loss of four of their young players to Bath City Youth.

Adam Shackell, Matt Minnus, Lee Burke and Dan Shanley have all decided to try and further their career at Twerton Park but Trowbridge boss Neil Kirkpatrick was less than pleased with how the situation was handled.

He said: "It is very disappointing the way the whole thing has happened from Bath City's side of it.

"A phone call is the least they could have offered because all four of them are signed with us as Trowbridge players.

"It is a big blow losing them because I had plans to use them this season. We will have to wait and see whether the move is a good one for them but I would be very surprised if all of them got a chance to progress to the first team."

Midfielder Shackell, 16, broke into the Trowbridge first team at the end of last season and starred in their Wiltshire Senior Cup win over Corsham with a tenacious display.

Minnus, 17, also came to the fore last season, scoring goals from up front, while Burke and Shanley were also on the fringe of the first team.

Kirkpatrick said: "My squad is looking a bit bare now and I could have done without losing them.

"I hope Bath don't just use them but they are still signed on with us so lets wait and see what happens."

Trowbridge are yet to record a victory in pre-season after crashing to a 3-1 defeat at Hellenic Premier League side Witney United on Saturday.

The hosts took a fortuitous lead on 12 minutes when Lee Wilson deflected Steve Tucker's right wing cross into his own net. Eight minutes later, Trowbridge were level when some poor marking allowed Dave Mitchell to head home Adam Nunn's cross.

Parity was only restored for sixty seconds though as Witney again took the lead through another deflection, this time off Gordon Saunderson.

Witney made it three on 75 minutes when, with Trowbridge striker Jack Heard on the floor with a head injury, the home side pushed forward for Tucker to score his second.

Kirkpatrick was not to disappointed with the display and believes things are coming together ahead of the season opener at home to Hook Norton next Saturday.

He said: "It was quite positive. Two of their goals were lucky while for the last one, I was disappointed they didn't kick the ball out of play for Jack to get treatment.

"Luke Smith and Andy Bloodworth were both given their first action of the season, which was encouraging to see and I think we are looking more like our own self."