Assistant manager Willie Donachie says that Town must assemble a stronger squad over the summer in order to compete next season. The former Scotland international full-back feels that the Blues' financial problems have forced them to use players not yet ready for first team football.

Donachie said: "The days of fielding under-strength sides must be over. It is just not good enough for a club of this size. There were five players on the park at Plymouth on Sunday who should not have been there. They should still be learning their trade in the reserves."

The ex-Oldham and Manchester City coach cites Chris Casement as amongst those players: "Chris is a great young player but he should not be learning how to play at right-back at Championship level. He has played only a handful of matches at right-back and two of them have been in the first team!

"It has all been so frustrating and the situation needs to improve over the summer.

"I feel sorry for the players who are not ready, as they have had too much on their plates, and I feel sorry for the experienced players, who had to 'carry' almost half the side on occasions."

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