Paul Cook has outlined how he is trying to reduce the size of the Pompey squad - but has stopped short at revealing which players he is trying to move on.

Speaking as the January transfer window nears its midway point, Cook told The News: 'We want our numbers to come down, we feel there are too many players to look after. What we are concentrating on at the minute is reducing the squad, obviously with one eye on the transfer window.

‘The problem is we have too many players not playing. The reality is they must leave. If I am not picking them then they must leave. If they don’t want to leave then don’t leave, that’s not my issue. Come the transfer window when the likelihood is you are not getting a contract here, then players seem to want to leave a bit quicker because lads like the security of a longer deal.

‘There have been one or two cases when I have told players they won’t be getting a new contract. There are also one or two cases where you are trying to look after the player to highlight what is coming. If a player has any sense he wouldn’t want his contract running out because nowadays there are a lot of players out of work in the summer.

‘If you look at what happened last year, it’s not a criticism, but there were 13 out of contact. In my opinion that is not correct. When we have a player at the club we think is good I believe he shouldn’t get into the last year of his contract, we should be continually looking to renew.

‘Lads can let their contracts run out if they want, but I am not a great believer in that. I think, as a club, if you have assets look after them and always try to get better ones in.’

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