Retained list explained

Last updated : 24 April 2002 By Tony Scholes

Gordon Armstrong - offered new deal
Many have emailed us to ask why this player and that player were not released, some suggesting that Stan should have got rid of another half dozen at least although we won't give a list of the names here that have been sent to us.

It is quite easily explained in that just eight of our players are out of contract and of these eight Stan has decided not to offer new terms to six of them. The other two are Gordon Armstrong and Dean West and they have both been offered new deals.

We have been asked why this player and that player haven't also been released from their contracts but not every player comes under review at this time of each season, only those whose contracts are at an end this summer.

Two people even suggested that we should release Robbie Blake for example because he isn't fit. If my memory serves me right Blake is under contract until June 2006 and that being the case had we decided to release him we would have had to pay him four year's wages to go.

So basically yesterday's news was just confirmation as to the decision made by Stan regarding the eight players under contract. That doesn't mean other players won't leave but if that were to happen it would be a transfer to another club, or having to pay the player to the end of his contract.