NEIL Young has released reserve keeper Callum Preston and is working on other transfer ins and outs in a bid to arrest Altrincham's sudden slump in fortunes.

After opening up with successive 2-2 draws against three of the National League North's most fancied sides, Alty suffered a 6-0 drubbing at home to AFC Fylde and a 2-0 defeat at Gainsborough.

Alty boss Young reacted by allowing Preston to leave, after just one appearance, and promising more changes ahead of Saturday's home game with Curzon Ashton and the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Kidderminster.

"I had a chat with Callum, and we decided it would be best for him to try and find another club," Young said.

"He has been travelling a fair way to be with us, and he isn't going to be number one.

"We will look for another keeper to challenge Andrew Dawber, particularly with a double-header this weekend, but there aren't a lot out there prepared maybe to sit on the bench.

"That was one factor with Callum – he wanted to be playing.

"I've got great confidence in Andrew. He is going to be a top keeper. All it needs is a bit of patience.

"I thought we played the better football in the first half at Gainsborough, but mistakes for both goals cost us in the second half.

"Basically, there are three things going on at the moment. There's a rather large lack of confidence as a consequence of what happened against Fylde, we are struggling defensively in terms of experience at the heart of the back line and we are not creating a great deal at the other end.

"That's not a good recipe, and I fully accept the last two performances have not been good enough.

"I'm not going to paper over cracks. We opened up with three good performances and results but have lost our way a bit since.

"We desperately need at least one centre-back, in the absence of Tom Hannigan, and also an injection of pace in at least one of the wide areas."