Hitchin Town boss Darran Hay has responded to the departure of two players by outlining the type of people he wants in his squad next season. I want players who have a desire to play for this club, he said. We did a good job in avoiding relegation last

Hitchin Town boss Darran Hay has responded to the departure of two players by outlining the type of people he wants in his squad next season.

"I want players who have a desire to play for this club," he said.

"We did a good job in avoiding relegation last season but we have only just started the job. We are building a team that can do much better than that and I want the players who got us out of trouble to be a part of that."

Hay believes that escaping relegation is not a valid reason for excessive demands from players.

"Let's get one thing clear," he insisted. "We stayed up, no more than that.

"We didn't win silverware and we were nowhere near play-off contention. We avoided the drop. I don't consider that a reason to be shouting from the rooftops - I want to be at the other end of the table."

But he is convinced that if the nucleus of the team that did so well in the last couple of months of the season stays together, the Canaries can make a bigger impact.

"We have one or two players who can forge their reputation over the next 12 months and crank up their careers - but only if they build on what they achieved last season.

"We can help them achieve that and who knows? There are lads here who can play at a higher level, but they need to consolidate on last season."

Hay was "disappointed" by the departure of David Deeney and Jon Stevenson.

"Their motives for going are personal and not necessarily football-driven, but they know what we can offer and they chose to go elsewhere," he said.

Deeney was rumoured to be on his way last season and was being courted by a number of clubs, including crisis-torn Nuneaton.

Stevenson, who had an "on-off" relationship with Hitchin over 12 months, was also lured to Hemel.

"Both lads did a good job for the club, and good luck to them," added Hay.