Manager Paul Sturrock this morning met with the players and has confirmed that the following players have been released by the club: Craig Eastmond, Nathan Ralph, Sam Hoskins, Joel Grant, Gozie Ugwu, Kieffer Moore, Seth Twumasi, James Hayter, Alex Smith, Liam Davis and Fergus Bell.

 

Captain Joe Edwards had some initial negotiations with the club but has decided to move on to pastures new and is now a free agent.

 

The club now deem surplus to requirements the following players who have all been made offers to terminate their contracts to enable them to find new clubs.

 

If they choose not to accept these offers and return to the club they will do so knowing they will not be given a squad number and not considered for playing matches.

 

The players are: AJ Leitch-Smith, James Berrett, Adam Morgan, Artur Krysiak.

 

Chris Weale has been made an offer and the club await his reaction to this offer.

 

Simon Gillett is unlikely to play until Christmas due to his ongoing injury and is under the care of our physio as he recuperates.

 

Jakub Sokolik and Nathan Smith both have a year to run on their contracts and will be staying with the club, while manager Paul Sturrock is in negotiations with Kevin Dawson and Sam Foley.

 

Commenting on the outgoings manager Paul Sturrock said: “Today has been a very important day for the future of this football club. It’s the culmination of player assessment after watching six or seven games since my arrival.

 

“I have made the decision that we have to clear the decks as I think there is a negativity and lack of commitment and a losing mentality amongst the squad of players and with that in mind we have released the players listed above.

 

“People might think it is a bit drastic but after watching last night at Taunton and last Sunday at MK Dons I do feel it is appropriate and I cannot tolerate lack of commitment and a losing mentality as I have already said.

 

“I am very hopeful that the players we have offered termination deals to will accept them.

 

“That leaves us with four players, two already under contract in Sokolik and Smith and two we are negotiating with – Foley and Dawson.

 

“I deliberately wandered around the ground at Taunton to listen to the fans thoughts and comments and I know that you can’t con a football fan.

 

“They know what they have been seeing. They are the real people and I do feel this action is necessary for the fans and people associated with this football club. It may seem a bit extreme but it’s something I feel is appropriate.

 

“Remember Stockport County they dropped from what is now The Championship to the Conference and now ply their trade in Conference North, we don’t want to emulate them!

 

“Losing becomes a habit and I’ve put myself under a bit of pressure with these decisions but I would rather go with fresh new blood than attempt to remould these existing players at the club.

 

“It’s going to be busy and I think we are going to be disjointed through the pre-season with trialists all over the place but I want to see players before I sign them.

 

“So I don’t think we can expect to have a smooth start although I would be pleasantly surprised if we did. We will need to bed the players in and hopefully have a full squad ready for the start of the League season.

“This is the start of a new era for the football club and I hope  everybody associated with the club will get behind us at the start of the new season.”