Manager Martin Allen says he decided to make Jamal Lowe, Iffy Allen, George Sykes and Adam Mekki available for transfer for their own good, not because he was under pressure to do so.

Homegrown strikers Allen, Lowe and Sykes are out on loan with Wingate & Finchley, Hemel Hempstead Town and Bishop’s Stortford respectively, and all three are out of contract at the end of the season. Meanwhile winger Mekki has struggled for regular games after joining on a non-contract basis.

Speaking on Tuesday, Allen explained his decision: "I made that decision simply to help those players.

"All three of them have worked hard and trained hard and all three of them are really good lads. With the amount of players we have got, it is not always easy for me to get them into our training group. In an ideal world you want 18 outfield players and two goalkeepers. That is the sort of squad size I want, and at the moment, it is difficult for me to involve them in our squad for training."

He continued: "They are not kids anymore, they are 20, and I have to make a judgement that I think is going to be best not only for the club but their personal welfare.

"For me that would be letting them go, finding another club, playing well and hopefully coming back up to this level or above. I could keep them - there is no pressure from the chairman to get rid of them - but I think it is in the best interest of those players to get out and get themselves in the shop window now before the manic rush of February, March and April."

Mekki, who had previously been in discussion with the club over a full-time contract after initially joining on a non-contract, joined the Bees at the end of August after leaving Aldershot at the end of last season and has made three starts and six substitute outings.

Explaining his decision to let the winger leave The Hive, Allen said: "I just felt for Adam it would be better for him to seek a club where he can play regularly and get himself half-a-dozen goals between now and the end of the season.

"It was difficult to tell him because he has not been paid apart from his expenses but I feel right morally to help.

"If all four don’t find clubs, I will look after them properly whilst they are at Barnet and I will happily look after all of them," added Allen.

Forward Allen made his Barnet debut in 2012 and has since made two starts and six substitute outings, scoring his only goal at Lincoln City on the final day of last season.

Lowe made his debut for the Bees three months earlier in the same year and has made a total of six starts and eight sub appearances without scoring.

Sykes has made three starts and four substitute outings for the Bees, but has not featured since December 2013.