DISCARDED Newport County players Antonio Corbisiero, Wayne O'Sullivan and Dominic Reece have voiced their disappointment at being sacked by the club's board.

In an almost unprecedented move by the County directors the trio were released on Sunday night following the previous day's humiliating FA Cup exit at Chippenham, but they feel they should have been given a chance to impress a new manager.

Former Swansea midfielder Corbisiero was almost stuck for words at being told by the club over the phone that he was being released.

"It came out of the blue as I never expected that the board would release me," he said. "If a new manager comes in and they don't fancy you then fair enough I wouldn't have any complaints.

"I didn't have a good game on Saturday but I started out of position on the right wing and then moved to the left wing after Wayne O'Sullivan went off at half-time. It was all a bit strange really.

"I have to admit I have never seen a football club do things this way. When they sacked John I thought they might have had another manager lined-up.

"I am disappointed with what has happened because I wanted to do well for the club and I genuinely wish the lads who are left and the fans all the best.

"I don't know what I am going to do now, I just need to take it and try and move on."

Winger O'Sullivan was equally gutted to be shown the Spytty Park exit door as he felt he deserved a chance to prove himself to a new boss.

"I have never known anything like it, for a board to sack players when there is no manager in place," O'Sullivan said.

"I am really disappointed, it was embarrassing to be taken off at half-time on Saturday but this is even more embarrassing.

"I know I have not been playing all that well but I didn't think I was playing badly enough to get sacked.

"When a new boss comes in it gives players a second chance to prove themselves but I can't believe that isn't going to happen."

Defender Dominic Reece started his County career looking like a decent signing but increasingly in recent weeks has struggled and had a nightmare against Chippenham and he too is dismayed at how the season has worked out.

"It is a real kick in the teeth," Reece said. "I know I didn't have a good game on Saturday but no-one did and I thought that I had been doing all right before then.

"It has been a bad start to the season but there wasn't a lot in the games we lost before John was sacked. "There were a lot of guys who had never played together before and we felt we could turn it around."

He added: "I would doubt very much if this was just a footballing decision and not partly financial because it is only the non-contract boys that have been released.

Director Colin Everett said: "The decision may be perceived as unconventional but we did discuss it with the caretaker manager Glyn Jones and feel it was the correct course of action.

"We aren't going to criticise individuals but at the end of the day we believe they did not perform to the standards we expect at Newport County and we have received the backing of a lot of fans who think that we have acted in the right, professional manner."