PLAYERS’ futures will be resolved “within the next week” with “a lot of changes” expected to be made to Worcester City’s squad.

Caretaker boss John Snape has stressed the importance of holding swift talks with his players as they prepare for life outside of the Vanarama National League North.

Worcester’s 4-2 defeat at champions AFC Fylde last Saturday saw them finish third-from-bottom, one point behind Gainsborough Trinity, who were thrashed 5-1 at FC United of Manchester on the final day of the season.

Snape, who has been in temporary charge since late January, said he was “hurt” as he felt his side were good enough to avoid the drop.

Former Premier League defender James Chambers, the versatile Junior English, centre-back Sam Oji, midfielder Danny Jackman, full-back Andy Gallinagh and goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan are all over 30 with a wealth of experience.

But Snape admitted his players were guilty of not managing games, insisting they had “thrown points away” this season.

“We have not gone down at Fylde we have gone because of our inability to manage games when it really matters,” he said.

“That’s disappointing and hurts me. It is not going to stop hurting me.

“Football is like that and I have been at the other end and now I have been at this end. I don’t like it and I don’t want it to happen again.”

A raft of players are likely to leave as the cash-strapped club looks to cut costs in a bid to survive in exile.

“The players' futures will be decided within the next week,” Snape said.

“That’s a must and it has got to be done.

“After that, it will be a forward motion looking at what we are going to do in the future.”

He added: “There will be a probably review with the board and the chairman to see what the future layout is.

“There are some ideas in, but nothing set in concrete.”

Snape insists he wants to see some of City’s young guns start next term after several made their debuts in the second half of the season.

Teenagers Callum Devlin, Aaron Brett and Ben Tilbury have all tasted first-team action while Worcester-born young striker Joe Bates was an unused substitute at Fylde.

“I think the youth structure is going to be key to the future of the club,” Snape said.

“Hopefully some of the young lads who didn’t come on last Saturday, because I didn’t think it was the right time to, will be starting next season as there is going to be a lot of changes.”