[Devongone]

The retained list has been announced with four players leaving the club.

The club thanks those who are leaving for their service and wishes them well.

This is a summary of the status of all the players in the squad:-


Under contract: Connor Cook, Armando Dobra, Dylan Duffy, Chey Dunkley, Will Grigg, Bailey Hobson, Paddy Madden, Liam Mandeville, Tom Naylor & Ryheem Sheckleford.

In negotiation: Ollie Banks, Ryan Boot, Janoi Donacien, John Fleck, Kyle McFadzean, Ash Palmer & Tyrone Williams.

Leaving the club: Kane Drummond, Michael Jacobs, Ali Mohiuddin & Darren Oldaker.

Contract option triggered: Ryan Colclough, Vontae Daley-Campbell, Lewis Gordon, Jamie Grimes, Liam Jessop & Ashton Rinaldo.

Returning to parent club: Harvey Araujo, Jenson Metcalfe, Michael Olakigbe, Bim Pepple, Jack Sparkes & Max Thompson.

My pointless opinion: The Under Contract section seems pretty lame with only FOUR current first choice players in the list. Leaving the club is difficult to disagree with, Michael Jacobs did well in our promotion season and retains ability, but has hardly been fit this time. Oldaker is a nearly man, not quite good enough in any aspect, Mohiuddin is untried and there must be a reason and Kane Drummond, a player I long advocated signing, seems to have been offered every chance to fail, especially in roles to which he was unsuited and in loans where he appeared unhappy - Mr Cook clearly doesn't fancy him so that is that.

Of those returning to their parent clubs - I'd love us to sign Araujo if we could keep him fit, which we can't, Jenson Metcalfe has been a success I'd like to keep him, Olakigbe is a player of real talent but he was so poor in the play-off game I couldn't make his case, Bim Pepple came having scored goals, works hard and does a job but doesn't look like a goal machine, Jack Sparkes is okay, but there are better raiding full backs out there, Thompson did fine, but wasn't good enough to unseat Ryan Boot so .........

In negotiation worries me. Fleck, McFadzean, Palmer, and sadly Ty Williams should require no negotiation. They are depreciating with every Tik of the Tok. We need newer and younger. Donacien I could like but is he ever fit? Ryan Boot the keeper should be a definite keeper if he'll stay. And Ollie Banks covers a multitude of managerial sins so he should stay if he agrees.

Contract option triggered - Grimes has been a great club man, but the past tense has caught up with him. Colclough has speed, some ability, but the decision-making of a house fly, I couldn't disagree with any outcome, Lewis Gordon, well we could do worse and Sparkes is no better, Daley-Campbell and Jessop would have to be viable playing options to convince me and I don't think so, as would Ashton Rinaldo and would Cookie trust him anyway?

We are in a position in which we could head into a new season with a predominance of dodgy, prematurely-ageing old blokes and a few new signings who on current form might not be much younger. I think a clear-out is indicated, but with the leading figure at the club incurably ill this might not be the time that there is the impetus for it actually to happen. Bob's Board seems to be investing its hopes in a Markanday return, but we need strengthening all over the pitch.

[Dancingwilldoit]

Option triggered doesn't mean an extended contract on the same terms. Reduced offers if they're not wanted will see them go elsewhere. Let's see how many stay on. Drummond has been a naughty boy with his mates and should have had his contract terminated after his court appearance. I know Colclough is in the same boat but hasn't been in court yet again let's wait and see.
At this stage it's much as I expected.
Banks has posted he's off to York so forget about him. He's been great for us and I hope he does well for them.

[Devongone]

York have plenty of money, so Ollie will be okay there, but losing 0-3 to Oldham suggest they need changes too. Drummond worked very hard to get his pro' career on track after Liverpool ditched him at 15. He's a scally, but where's he from? I feel sorry for him, all he was offered was the odd dog's chance to prove himself, and he has fckde it all up. Didn't know about Colclough, but he gives every impression of being brainless on the field. We could cut a hole in his sock for the tag ....

Grimes is a good guy, but we will never see Division One with him at the back. I wouldn't want to play behind him. I imagine he'll want to stay but .......

Half those we have under contract already aren't making it. We have a huge task in the next couple of months to recruit, but getting down to it during the summer doesn't usually seem to be Mr Cook's best feature does it? And whilst we are looking for new recruits, perhaps we might also consider a more eefective way of playing. Alongside Notts County we were up top in possession stats, and we even scored goals, but we couldn't win often enough. If both we and Notts got nowhere that way doesn't it suggest you have to be very good indeed to make playing that way work?

I am a bit worried about us.

[Dancingwilldoit]

The thing with Drummond was his photo shoot outside the court smirking away. Even scallies usually show a bit of contribution before picking the next pocket.
Grimes has been a good player for us. Hardly ever injured and if he stays around he knows he won't feature much so it's his choice.
Colclough is a different story. There's a footballer in there somewhere but he's so inconsistent it's baffling. Maybe the Sword of Damocles over his head is affecting his game (don't think it's his first time)
I hope Madden is on our transfer list if we put one out. He's a waste of a squad place and has to be one of Cooks strangest signings along with bringing Akinola back. We've all had bad days at the office but jesus he must have had some stinging hangovers.

[Devongone]

I felt Akinola was a genuine talent who was gradually losing himself - I expected we'd play him when we got him back, to see if there was something in there, but when we didn't I just didn't get it .....

Madden used to be pretty good but Stockport's eagerness to get rid surely said it all. Maybe York would like him on loan?

Colclough has ability, but he is always getting into great positions to which lacks both the brains and the cool to provide the finish. On field he is thick. Off field, it's looking as though the MENSA application may be surplus to requirements too. Hope he stays out of prison, that's an experience that does very few people any good.

Smirking always condemns people, but it is just a nervous reaction. People have no facial way to deal with a situation which has got beyond their control. Sometimes footballers in trouble need someone to reach out to them, but clubs mostly don't feel they can do it, because of the reaction of their own supporters. I feel sorry that Kane Drummond has wrecked a future he had worked hard to re-build for himself. But I don't think we were much help to him. When we should have been another step up for him, we were largely a step backwards. I just hope he sorts himself out and grows up a bit.

Grimes has had some good games for us. His attitude seems excellent. If he remained on our wage bill I wouldn't kick off, but I would be worried if anybody saw him as a first choice centre back. Central Defence is an area in which we are terribly old and vulnerable. Will Chey Dunkley, not fit since October, ever return as our lynchpin?