Barnet head coach Mark Robson feels he needs to ‘freshen up’ the Bees side following the departures of former skipper Mark Hughes and midfielder Sam Deering.

Both players were mainstays in the Barnet team that narrowly avoided relegation from the Football League last season.

Neither were released by the club when they announced their retained list but the Bees confirmed on Monday that the duo would be leaving Underhill.

“I feel like I need to freshen things up and make a few changes,” said Robson. “We are looking now to the future and to bringing in some new faces.

“Obviously the last couple of seasons have been a disappointment for everybody and it would be nice to get some new faces in that haven’t experienced that and are looking forward to a new challenge.”

He added: “There are so many players out there at the moment that have been released by other clubs. I don’t want to just go out and get anybody in; I want to make sure I get the right players.

“If we can get some young, fresh up and coming players and hopefully if we can get the right deals going we can get a few experienced players that would benefit the younger lads.”

Hughes scored the winning goal in the final day 2-1 victory against Burton Albion – a result which meant Barnet avoided relegation. He made 55 appearances last season while Deering featured in 53 matches.

The former captain admitted that he was disappointed that his time with the Bees had come to an end but wished the club well for the future.

"I can't say I am not disappointed because I am," Hughes told SkySports.

"I have given my all for this football club since I joined, I think the fans have seen that and fully appreciate not only the level of commitment I have shown in every game as captain but also what I have done.

"I have spoken to the new gaffer, he has said he's looking to go in a different direction and has other ideas, but given my service for the club I thought I would have been in his plans.

"I wish Barnet and the new management team all the best and I am looking forward to a new chapter in my career wherever that may be."

Another player who wasn’t amongst those released was centre-back Jack Saville. Barnet stated, like Deering and Hughes, that contract negotiations were ongoing with the former Chelsea youngster.

Robson said: “We will be talking to Jack at some point this week so that is a little positive. We have been speaking to a lot of players and my phone hasn’t stopped ringing.

“So hopefully we can get a few deals over the line and introduce them to the club.”