Player-manager Scott Rogers says that telling certain members of his current Willand Rovers squad that they will not be required next season is the toughest part of his job.
Rovers host champions-in-waiting Larkhall Athletic on Saturday in their final game of Rogers' first season at the helm.
But Rogers has already started planning for next season, identifying who he wants to sign and who will make way.
And the former Tiverton Town midfielder admitted that, with hard work and team spirit being so high on the agenda at Silver Street, telling some that their services are no longer be required is easier said than done.
"To be honest, we are looking forward to the end of the season and building for the next," he said.
"We have already identified four or five players that we want to improve the squad.
"Some players will stay and some unfortunately will have to move on.
"That is probably the hardest part of the job because some of these lads have given their all for me and the club.
"But you have to keep improving and trying to get better. I can't thank all of them enough, but that is football."
Rogers' squad have one last chance to impress the player-manager, but it will not be easy against a Larkhall side who have claimed the Western League Premier Division crown at a canter.
Rovers themselves will also have to improve on Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Sherborne Town.
After going 1-0 down, Aidan Moyle levelled for a depleted Willand side, only to concede the winner two minutes from time.
Rogers concedes Larkhall are an intimidating proposition for his players, but feels it is the ideal way for them to end the season.
"Larkhall will be tough. I know some of the players are a little apprehensive considering how few players we have available," he said. "It is a nice way to sign off the season I think – by playing the champions. Hopefully we can give them a really good game and finish the season on a high note."
Speaking of Saturday's loss against Sherborne Town, Rogers continued: "They (Sherborne) probably deserved the win in terms of their second-half performance, but I felt we also deserved something out of it because of the boys' workrate.
"We have been really struggling to fill the side in recent weeks and we were down to the bare bones again.
"We had three players away at weddings but the boys who did play put in a hell of a shift."
