The retained list...

[Feral Fox]

Well here it is folks...

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/retainedlist

Under contract

Lewis Alessandra
Shaun Brisley
Terry Hawkridge
Elliott Hewitt
Noor Husin
Liam Noble
Jon Stead
Matt Tootle

Out of contract, offered new contract

Pierce Bird
Richard Duffy
Ross Fitzsimons
Dan Jones
Michael O'Connor
Branislav Pindroch

Out of contract, released

Shola Ameobi
Adam Collin
Carl Dickinson
Mike Edwards
Jonathan Forte
Elliot Hodge
Nicky Hunt
Rob Milsom
Callum Saunders
Alan Smith
Curtis Thompson

Loans expired

Mason Bennett
Jorge Grant
Ben Hall
Matty Virtue

Apprentices offered development contracts

Harry Bugg
Remaye Campbell
Declan Dunn
Alex Howes
Sam Osborne

Apprentices released

Dominic Brown-Hill
Peter Dearle
Ryan Ebanks
Curtis Hall
Jordon Richards
Joe Searson-Smithard
Edwin Towers

[Feral Fox]

Got to say glad Collin has gone. Not sure releasing Forte is a good move, but gives wages scope I suppose as long as they have capable replacements lined up.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I personally hope Pindroch isn't on much as I feel he should have been released, Duffy can be backup but we should look to replace him personally. Jones and O'Connor need to sign on the dotted line, they'll be massive players for us.

I'm sad to see Ameobi leave but it's the right call.

Forte should have been given a two year deal but I suspect the damage has been done, he's proven he can score - so lets hope Nolan knows how to replace him well.

Collin, Hodge, Hunt and Smith they needed to go, so it makes sense.

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

I’m surprised Collin has gone I though KN rated him. Shame Fort is going but hopefully a better replacement is on the way. What about Mike Edwards I know he was registered as a player does he leave the club or stay as fitness coach?

[Feral Fox]

I would gave ditched Duffy as well personally. 

Hawkridge and Alessandro would be for the chop as well imo. Neither good enough for a promotion pushing team on the wing, which is where they were signed for.

We do need some good reinforcements now though!

Collin was a liability and apart from his stupid incident Fitz looked the better of the two, especially distribution wise. Hopefully he has learnt his lesson and will become our first choice now.

 

[ARLukomski 𝕏 ARLukomski Instagram declanweliczko_arlki]

Nolan has done really well there. Forte needed to move on in my opinion. I've changed my mind several times about whether to keep him or release him but I settled on being released because he's too injury prone and he's getting on a bit. We need younger strikers (other than Dennis who I would still take as long as we get another younger striker in) to take us forward, not just in terms of trying to get out of League Two, but being comfortable in League One.

Most of them were in their thirties and needed to go. Dicko, Hunt, Shola (will probs retire). Smith and Edwards needed to be released from their player contracts and just focus on being part of the backroom team. Milsom and Thompson have pretty much been certain to be released for a while now. Adam Collin I was surprised about because with the amount of times Nolan defends him, I thought he was going to offer him a new deal but it is 100% the right decision. Getting on, kicking is awful, flaps at every cross, dives late, not commanding enough and he palms too many shots into the path of opposition players.

[liampie]

gutted and a bit annoyed tbh.

getting rid of a player who has saved us at times and offering a player who has cost us a lot of the time a new deal is frustrating. duffy should be on the released list no doubt about it.

[Super_Danny_Allsopp]

Surprised about Collin and thought maybe Shola could have made some cameo performances, but on the whole pretty decent decisions. 

[allardyces tash]

There's a few I would of kept like Forte, we know he can get goals. I would have paid to release Stead, he's the wrong end of 30 and has not been the player he could have been. Age isn't on his side theses days but overall I do agree.

[upthepies]

I felt surprised to see Robert Milsom listed within the released players, though he shouldn't be. We all knew that him and Jonathan Forte would be leaving, its less of a shock when you think about the amount of games they both missed. I would have liked to see Richard Duffy join the list because I feel we could have a much better centre back.

Adam Collin needed to find a new club, some Notts fans would never accept him.

[CliftonMagpie]

The list seems about right, I trust Kevin Nolan so lets see what he can do.

We need to capture two good strikers to replace Forte and Ameobi, someone strong would be good. We need the signings to be players that will get the fans going on a match day as I will miss singing to Shola.

[NottsGeezerCal 𝕏 @NottsGeezerCal Instagram @NottsGeezerCal]

@Fan of Big Tone Edwards will be staying on as fitness coach.

 

Now that's a bulk of the average players gone, let's see what Nolan can do. Glad we've got rid of the likes of Dickinson, Collin, Thompson, Milsom.. 

I'd like to see some pacey players with a couple of big strong guys!

[Magic magpie]

Well I’ve got to say on some of the players  I’m not surprised ..! Jonathan forte is one I’m not surprised has been released although he had a great end to the season his season wasn’t great but always gave his all to the club and team. Alan Smith is someone I’m shocked to leave the club due to his coaching role at the club and relationships with Kevin Nolan. Adam Collins is one im not shocked to see leaving the club again always he gave his best but just made to many errors for me And that cost us points. How ever Duffy being given a New contract don’t know what to make of it but Shola departing I’m a bit upset about. 

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

Collin going 

Surprised that contracts offered to Duffy and Pindroch

Maybe there also needed some Transfer Listing of Alessandra, Noble and even Stead ( just fearful of a Jason Lee on season too many)

On the whole, reinvirgorated my faith in the mgmt

 

[magpiejue]

Glad Collin going. 

 

 

 

[samwatto2008]

Wow, Nolan has made a statement there. Glad Collin, Dicko and all the deadwood is gone (Hunt, Hodge, Saunders) to be honest it angers me quite a bit because these wages collectively could've been used much wiser last summer. But on the other hand this works perfectly because it now means we can over pay or offer players more wages to come and choose Notts over other clubs. For example Dennis both Notts and Wycombe are interested, logic says go Wycombe but we need to make us look kmore attractive, ie pay more wages. Overall happy with retained list. Sad to see Ameobi go as hes been brilliant, Forte has been really good. Well Done Nolan!

[Truefootballfan 𝕏 OldNottsfan]

We will have to hope Kevin has a good idea of who he can get in. He didn’t like Forte which he made pretty obvious since he ignored him during the terrible goal drought around December. I would have kept him but he may have wanted guarantees we couldn’t commit to. On the other hand Kevin loves Duffy and personally I would have let him go. Shola couldn’t play every game and his goal return this season was poor for a player of his class so sadly his time had come.

I we can improve in every position of those released (which surely is the point) we should have a good team next season. 

Remember there is a 5 year plan ..... if we don’t get promotion next term instead of being ahead of schedule we will be behind schedule so Mr Hardy needs to commit to some serious investment be it in transfer fees or wages or both.... can’t wait to see who we get in.

[KB1862 Instagram Bainbridge316]

Would of kept Milsom and Saunders. Milsom could have been useful in the middle. But Saunders never really got his chance to prove himself. I heard good things of him playing on defenders shoulders with the ability to run and score which we could perhaps have done with but Forte was wasted last season when he made his starts he was scoring maybe was too late for him. Stead, as much as I appreciate him as a player, shouldn't be playing from the start maybe a player to bring on in the last few minutes maybe be a poacher. Collin, was always below Fitzsimmons in ability, had no distribution or decent goalkeeping ability. 

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

4 hours ago, TheFostarr94 said:

@Fan of Big Tone Edwards will be staying on as fitness coach.

That’s good news thanks @TheFostarr94 

 

[Northants Pie]

Well then, that's certainly cleared the decks.

I don't see the need for a third keeper, Fitzsimmons is our No 1 & Pindroch is more than a capable back up.

Our defence no matter what anyone thought was the third best in the league so no surprises most of them kept on / offered new contracts.

Glad O'Connor been offered another contract, showed just what he can do in those 45 mins against Coventry.

The best young lads have been offered contracts which just shows how much work has gone into those decisions.

As for the replacements, I don't rate Dennis or bad news billy aka Akinde, it will be interesting just what we do from here.

[Northants Pie]

@Fan of Big Tone surely Mike Edwards is due a second testimonial now... ha ha

The club need more people like him in employment

[Countyman]

Overall the retained list makes a lot of sense and there will be a high level of scope for further improvements to the squad.

I may have changed a few decisions personally but as I mentioned I think the decision is pretty spot on by Kevin Nolan. It's a brave statement by him to release three strikers, it should mean we have a set of fresh faces up there.

[DangerousSausage]

All in all it makes sense. Forte was the only question mark really, but he was ineffective for much of the season until he was recalled in the last month or so and KN clearly doesn't rate him. We need new new blood up front and Forte needs a fresh start. I also hope Thompson finds a new League club and gets plenty of game time.

If the players we've offered a new contract to sign up we've got a decent foundation for next season yet also plenty of leeway to strengthen. I'm interested as to whether we'll look for a new keeper or let Fitzsimmons and Pindroch scrap it out for the number one jersey.