Aldershot boss Terry Brown announced two weeks ago that he was already player shopping for next season - and there are already dozens of players in the shop window.
Along with the collapse of the transfer market from the Bosman case, player contract lengths have dropped considerably - and that has left dozens of players already chasing deals elsewhere.
A string of clubs have been settling up contracts on unwanted players rather than eat further into their budgets. New clauses in the players contracts mean clubs can cancel the deal by paying as little as 20% of the value of the contract.
Shrewsbury have offloaded two in the past week with long-serving club captain Kevin Sharp joining Jamie McClen in leaving the club early after the club declined to offer either player contracts for next season. Chester made seven players available for loan but have settled contracts for at least four of them, and also released Ryan Lowe after the player indicated he would leave in the summer.
Bulls work experience signing Harry Donaghey has been told by Portsmouth that he is surplus to requirements, and he is probably the first of many to come knocking on the Edgar Street doors before this season is over.