City forced to rebuild after one game.

DURHAM City manager Lee Collings, who takes his side to Stocksbridge in the UniBond Premier Division tonight, has been forced to rebuild just one game into the new season.

Newly-promoted City released three players before the opening-day defeat against Ashton; summer signings Marc Walton and Alex Benjamin along with left-back Stephen Capper.

Irishman Capper has joined a number of former Durham players at Spennymoor Town, leaving Collings searching for two full backs and a couple of new strikers.

Collings said: "The situation is far from ideal but I've a right-back lined up while seven days has been put in for Bedlington Terriers left-back Paul Talbot. "He is an experienced player who has played at UniBond Premier Division level and above for the likes of Gateshead and Burton Albion.

"It's never easy to bring quality strikers in but I've a couple of irons in the fire in that department and hopefully they'll come off."

Durham have been linked to prolific Shildon striker Warren Byrne in the past, and front men not in the side at higher ranked clubs may come on Collings' radar.

"It's been like a domino effect with players leaving the club in the summer, but the atmosphere was much better on Saturday even though we lost the game," added Collings.

"Unfortunately recent signing Chris Moore is unavailable tonight and Gary Brown suspended so it will be a case of mixing and matching.

"Stocksbridge had a great win at King's Lynn, who were in the Conference North last season, on Saturday so we'll have to be at our best for our first away game in the UniBond premier division."

City's New Ferens Park stadium, renamed the Arnott Stadium last season, has had another name change and is now the Esh Group Stadium.