With pre-season friendly matches due to kick off in under four weeks time, a sorely depleted Jags are looking in dire need of a major rebuilding job.
That's because of a somewhat unique arrangement struck at the cash-strapped Lanarkshire club during the winter, when several players agreed to turn out without weekly wages on the proviso they were awarded free transfers at the end of season.
Payback time has now arrived, with highly-rated full-back Barry Russell stepping up to Albion Rovers, Murray Watson moving to Shotts, top scorer Steven 'Dunga' McLung reportedly poised to join Cumnock as well as several other Showpark aces the subject of approaches from other Junior clubs.
Striving to cope is team boss Jimmy Kerr, who inherited the unusual transfer deal when he assumed the gaffer's chair back in November.
He said: "Our best wishes go to the lads who decided to take up the option on their contracts, even though it leaves me needing to bring in a lot of players in a short space of time."
Kerr remains hopeful of persuading tried-and-trusted men like Ricky Orr and Stevie Chaplain to stay for another season and he has warned off rival clubs from making signing overtures to midfielder Colin Williamson.
"Some people appear to think it's open season on every player on the books but not everyone signed up en masse for the free-transfer deal," he added.
"If we're to stand any chance of stabilizing the club during this period, Colin will have a massive role to play, as indeed will our team skipper Ryan Kelly, who didn't need to be asked twice before committing himself again."
Elsewhere, Darren Henderson has left Dalry Thistle to take over as Glenafton's new boss, replacing Greg Denham.
And Clydebank have signed up defender Paul Bell, where he will team up with a fellow newcomer, young Drumchapel United full-back Andy Patterson who shone as a Pollok trialist towards the end of last season.
Another player unlikely to figure in the Lok's plans is Senior ace Paul Lovering, with a source close to the Airdrie defender scoffing at reports he would be moving to Newlandsfield.
