Town have announced their development squad retained list
Fleetwood Town have offered professional contracts to six players who will feature in Barry Nicholson’s development squad next season.Akil Wright, Keano Deacon, Kieran Dunbar and Thomas Grant have all had their stays with the Club extended for another year.
Youth team players Mamadou Djabi and Nathan Sheron will also join Nicholson’s group for the 2016/17 campaign having been promoted from the U18 set-up.
Leaving the Cod Army will be Aleks Gogic, Bradley Roscoe, Conor Smith, Keir Dickson, Harvey Hodd, Matty Williams and Max Cartwright.
Nicholson said: “It’s been a tough decision. It’s always hard when you’ve got to get rid of boys and tell them they haven’t got a contract at the Club.
“Making decisions on players is really tough and telling the ones we aren’t keeping is difficult. On the other hand though it’s nice to tell the others that they’re getting contacts.
“I’m genuinely disappointed for the ones who aren’t staying. I’ve said this many a time but I’ve loved working with this group of players.
“They’ve given me absolutely everything each time we’ve stepped on to the training ground, at gym sessions and in the games as well.
“Unfortunately that’s football though and the nature of the beast, you have to make these decisions sometimes. I just hope we can help these lads who have been released.
“I want to speak to other managers about them and try to get them playing elsewhere, because they’re genuinely great lads and I wish them all the very best.”
Nicholson however is hopeful the six who have been offered deals will break through into Steven Pressley’s first team plans.
“We feel the ones that we’ve kept have got a right opportunity to progress at this Club and that’s why we’ve decided to keep them.
“With no loan system next year it’s really important we get the right group in at development level that can really push the first team.
“The ultimate goal is to push them into the gaffer’s first team squad so it’s great opportunity for them and one I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into.
“One thing is for sure though and we’ve told them this is that they need to come back absolutely flying in pre-season. They have to be ready from day one.”