Cheltenham boss Keith Downing is determined to avoid another battle with relegation by keeping hold of his best players.The Robins have been labelled as a 'selling club' after Kayode Odejayi, Grant McCann, Brian Wilson, Michael Duff and Martin Devaney all left Whaddon Road to join higher league clubs.

But Downing believes he must keep hold of key players such as Shane Higgs and Steven Gillespie if they are to stand any chance of a safe mid-table finish next season.

The manager told the Gloucestershire Echo: "Over the past few years, people have started to expect Cheltenham Town to lose our best players, but I want to change that.

"Of course, everyone is for sale if the offer is right, but I want to build a team here and I would like to think we can become a mid-table side next season.

"The only way we are going to improve and sustain League One football is by keeping our top players."

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