Lowestoft Town started to feel the repercussions of their switch to the Conference North last night as Jake Reed and Stuart Ainsley headed for the exit door.

Reed played a pivotal role in helping the Trawlerboys finally achieve promotion to the Conference set-up but it wasn't enough to convince the former Dagenham & Redbridge striker to stay.

A club statement said: 'The management team have been working tirelessly on a financial and personal level to keep Reed at the club and have tried everything in their power. The management have always said that they will not put the club in trouble by trying to match the extortionate wages offered by other club at these levels and it's a frustrating decision that has seen Reed agree better terms elsewhere and leave the club.

'Everyone at Lowestoft Town Football Club would like to thank Jake for his short time with us and wish him the very best for the future.'

The club also revealed last night that Ainsley had come to a mutual agreement with the Blues to seek pastures new.

Joint boss Ady Gallagher said: 'We really appreciate the service he's given the club and we can't speak highly enough about him, not just as a footballer but also as a person. We've asked him to play in a number of positions during his time at the club and he's always given us 100pc percent and fully supported the club, team and his team mates.'