STUDLEY manager Kevin Kingham thanked the football family after having to completely rebuild the squad in the space of a week.

With Adrian Mander’s departure, all but senior four players have moved from the Beehive.

Top scorer Josh McKenzie became the latest player to join the exodus and returned to Bromsgrove Sporting.

But Kingham has been working over time to draft in players and make sure Studley can fulfil their fixtures.

Romulus, Alvechurch and many other clubs have helped out with players.

Junior Mangolo and Geovannie Shaw, who was on trial at Lye Meadow, have been loaned to Studley by Alvechurch.

Of the squad, only Michael Murray, who has been named captain, David Rimmer, George Harris and Cameron Pringle Andrews remain.

Keeper Rimmer played as an emergency goal keeper in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Bolehall Swifts, his final appearance before knee cartilage surgery.

Kingham said: “As a manager I’ve always tried to do the right thing but I’ve been working hard to draft in players.

“I’ve been lucky clubs have been willing and I am very grateful.

“You put seven days in and ask clubs to waive the seven-day period because the deadline for transfers is Thursday. But we will make sure we’ve got enough players for the rest of the season.

“Hopefully there will be one or two young lads who will take their chance and we can start building for next season.

“It’s the guys on the committee I feel sorry for, they’ve had this problem once already this season and are lovely guys.”

It’s the second time this season that the Bees have had to rebuild after Paul Smith joined Bromsgrove Sporting in September.

Against title-chasing Bolehall, Studley conceded an own goal and a penalty, when right-back Marc Elliott blocked a shot on the line and was shown a straight red card.

Studley, who were set to play Alvis Sporting on Tuesday, entertain Pelsall Villa at home on Saturday (3pm ko).