OK these are the people off the top of my head who's contracts expire at the end of the season: Nelson, Whelpdale, Akinfenwa, Kedwell, Weston, Birchall, Lee, Carter, ***an and Borrowdale. Who of those really deserve new deals? Nelson - 100% give him a new deal, he should be given one now quite frankly before we lose him to a bigger club. Whelpdale - I would say yes but perhaps reduce his wages or make it more incentive based to keep him motivated. Akinfenwa - I'll be honest I don't know, on current form I would say give him another year but with Kedwell in the side he's not the same player but his partnership with Cody is so good. It's a hard one to call on the big man. Kedwell -Yes but I'm a fan of Keds, if a player gives 110% every game then they deserve the shirt. Weston - We haven't seen enough this season that would warrant a new deal, unless he can find some form towards the end of the season, no thanks. Birchall - Such a shame about what happened regarding the injury but even when fully fit he's not really challenged. Best for both parties if he's let go. Lee - He fights for the cause and when on form is a good player, for about the first 10 games in a really poor team this season he was our best player by miles. Let him stay but on reduced terms to what he earns now. Carter - Not had much of a sniff since his injury and with Borrowdale now on the books doesn't look like his Gills career will last. Shame but it happens. ***an - Hasn't got the legs of a striker anymore, could be useful in "the hole" linking midfield and attack but that's where Dack should be playing. Let him play for a new contract but if his form isn't good enough then I wouldn't be fussed by keeping him. Borrowdale - ???????? Thoughts?
I would only keep 3 ( if we stay up and want to progress). Nelson 100% Akinfenwa. He's good to either play half a game or come on against tiring defenders. Whoever we play with Cody,bringing Bayo on gives defenders a completely different problem ( I don't think Taylor will keep him though) ***an. I think he's got a touch of class about him, and to me he improves a little every time he plays. Not playing for most of the season has held him back.
I believe Steven Gregory is also out of contract in the summer as well as Antonio German. Nelson- Yes I hope he gets a new contract, be a shame if he leaves as he is a top keeper and still has many years left in my opinion. Whelpdale- No, I don't think he deserves a new deal as he has not been as good as he can be this season when he has played and also he is injured too much. Big fan of him and he was my favorite player when he arrived but not now so I would let him go because as well as this he doesn't warrant being one of the highest paid players. Akinfenwa- I think I would offer him a new one year deal on current form however he needs to keep this up. Kedwell- Simple yes new 2 year deal is what I would give him, be good when he is back from injury as we then have 3 great strikers. Can't see how anyone would not give him a contract, on his day he is our best player. Him and Cody McDonald are a great strikeforce and one of the best in this league. You will not find a harder working player in this league either. Weston- No, he has not been good enough, will need to up his game in the final part of the season if he is to be offered a new contract. A shame as I think he is a decent player. Gregory- Yes without a doubt I would offer him a new 2/3 year deal. He has got better and better and will become one of our best players. Well actually I would say he is possibly one of the best players already. Birchall- No, not much to say on him but it is a shame that is hasn't worked, just always wonder what he would have been like if he hadn't have got injured. Lee- No same as Whelpdale, all that I have said about him applies to Lee as well. Carter- Don't know much about him and wonder why he doesn't ever get a chance, would be a no as it don't seem as if he is rated otherwise he would play. ***an- I would say no at the moment as he hasn't done enough for a new deal. But if he gets better then I may change my mind on him. Borrowdale- Not fit yet so a no at the moment. German- It's a no for him, not good enough at this level.
Nelson- no real argument here, best keeper we've had in ages so much so we haven't even bothered to get a proper number 2 on the books this year, speaks volumes.(YES) Whelpdale- if he will take reduced terms then yes but otherwise maybe worth moving on, paid too much for too little in terms of results, did very well for us in league 2 but this is a very different division and to be honest when he has played he's hardly set the world on fire. Want to keep him though. (YES) Akinfenwa- I know people will disagree but feel he has deserved another year, big jump for a player of his physique at his age to handle the higher division but has done well, always gives us a different option, not pretty but effective and if we want to push on next year thats what we will need to do sometimes. (YES) Kedwell - Can't really say no, was integral in our promotion last year and is a solid player at this level, I'd be cautious to offer him anymore than a year because age is creeping up and honestly I feel he's at the absolute limit of his ability in League 1. Good player nonetheless and can be dangerous up front (YES) Weston- Another year for Westy is what I'd offer perhaps more for what I think he could do rather than what he actually produces. Pace but little else unfortunately but I still think of the bench for the last 20 minutes he could simply fly past people. Wouldn't be surprised to see him released though and in all honesty there are better wingers who will be available on a free next year and be on a similar wage so unfortunately I haven't seen enough to go with my gut. (NO) Birchall- I feel very sorry for Birch but to be honest even when he has been fit he's got nowhere near the first team on a regular basis so the injury can only blamed to a certain extent. Probably very good in the non-league but League 1 is too far for him and keeping him would just be sentimental rather than logical. (NO) Lee- Can't see Lee being offered anything at all, very high paid and simply doesn't seem to fit into the way Taylor is trying to make us play. Down the pecking order here now and needs to play football, quality League 2 player but we need to look forward, not backwards. Don't think he will be surprised at being released after a very turbulent season for him. (NO) Carter- Release, have never seen him get in the team and could never see it happening another one of those players that have just made up the numbers, don't mean to be too critical but does anyone honestly feel differently? (NO) ***an - Tricky one as I feel he has been a useful pickup for this season but going forward cant see the use in keeping him. Not going to be a starter up front or out wide. However I wouldn't be upset to see him stay, a very safe player who can play at this level. Maybe see him come back in Preseason and earn another deal once Taylor knows what he has and hasn't got. (NO/PRE-SEASON) Borrowdale- Hard to make my mind up on Borrowdale, undoubtedly a player who if he got himself sorted out could be a leading light in this division and I fully understand why taylor offered him a deal, he's worth the punt. He's not being payed yet till he gets himself fit enough so personally it would be one I would invite to Pre-Season where he's on Par with all the other players instead of playing catch up. (PRE-SEASON)
The priority is to improve the overall standard of the squad. Most of the candidates have been failiures. The door has to be shown to most of them even Lee and Whelpdale who both have the ability to play in a good squad but have shown none of the consistency that has to go hand in hand with ability especially when they are the club's top earners. It might be harsh to show Bayo the door, he is a great bloke with real skill but lets face it, he is only good for 45 minutes (it will be less next season) and even in the role of a supersub it does not warrant a new contract. So who are the musthaves? Firstly Kedwell, head and shoulders above the rest from August to November and bravely playing on after that when in obvious need of surgery. Nelson, approaching 33 but that is not a problem for a goalie and he has been consistently sound even if some of the descriptions of his ability are a bit exaggerrated. Finally there is Gregory, much maligned but he has been excellent under Taylor. As for the rest, au revoir.
PT has said recently that recruitment is the key to success for smaller clubs (e.g Leyton Orient and us) He will need to be ruthless this summer to free up funds to improve his own squad. He must not make the mistakes of the incoming Hessy. (After the Bald One left) Scally cancelled all the contracts giving Hess a blank sheet, he then went and re signed people like Oli, Gowling etc for some unknown reason. We know the result.
Out of those listed, I'd keep Akinfenwa and Kedwell on one year contracts, Gregory on a 2 year contract, Nelson on a 2-3 year contract and ***an on a 6 month contract. The rest aren't worthy of a new contract in my opinion.
Offer contracts 1-2 year deals to Danny Kedwell, Steven Gregory, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Craig ***an and I would offer Stuart Nelson a three year contract. Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale are our highest wage earners and I think there wages can be spent on improving other area's of the team, Weston has not been good enough and while I am sad to see Adam Birchall go i think it is only fair for Birchall to leave so he can get regular first team football elsewhere. What I think is the most important factor in releasing players, is that we replace them with players who are better then them otherwise there is no point releasing Charlie Lee if we cannot sign someone better or someone who fits the system that Peter Taylor wants to play.
It is a tricky question but if we are looking to improve we need players of championship quality, and can we honestly say any of the players up for renewal are of that standard? Gregory possibly, Nelson maybe, you can never tell with keepers. As for the rest I would say no, Keds is a hard-worker and I do rate him but I think L1 is his level, Bayo is simply to static to play in a higher division, Peterboro' got rid of Lee and Whelps when they reached the Championship and we can see why.
