STOCKPORT County have announced their retained list for the 2016/17 season following a ninth place finish in the Vanarama National League North.
The list sees 14 players leave Edgeley Park, but manager James Gannon has offered terms to ex-Salford centre-back Chris Smalley and intends to talk to Ryan Ellison, Danny Hurst – who is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury – and striker Kayode Odejayi.
Amongst the players leaving the club is captain Sean O’Hanlon and strikers Richard Brodie and Obi Anoruo – both of which have joined the Hatters since Gannon returned to the club for his third spell in January.
The full list of players leaving can be found on the official club website.
Gannon said: “It is never a nice experience telling players that their time at the Club has come to an end, but out of respect to them all I wanted to do it as early as possible to allow them to make plans for 2016/17. I also want to thank all of them for their efforts since I returned to the club, particularly those involved in our successful Cheshire Senior Cup campaign.”
@SCFCmedia no Morton , yeah man?
— tom (@ttomlawson) May 4, 2016
A small number of players including Ian Ormson, Glenn Rule and John Marsden have already agreed contracts for next season.
The club added that they will also be announcing a number of new signings this month, with several new players having already agreed terms and signed pre-contracts for next season.
@SCFCmedia another season in this division then
— robson sargeant (@RobsonSargeant) May 4, 2016
Gannon, who picked up 26 points from 18 league games since returning to the club added: “As expected we are looking to improve the team for next season. We have been good but are aspiring to be better, and move towards a great season.
“Going forward our main recruitment will be based around strong Conference North players who have experience of playing consistently well at this level and a track record of personal or team success. We have highlighted relatively young but mature players, with good athleticism and ability for their positions.
“We want to put together a squad of players capable of forming a competitive team for promotion. In that regard we need players proven and ready for this level. But we are also mindful of building over the next season and the next, and the next again. That means players with growth and possible potential to play National and even full time in the future. Ultimately that is the journey we want to club to go on.
“We are hopeful that if the recruitment is right now that we can create a stability within the squad that will see them perform this season and grow each season.”
By Callum Matthews
@matthews1818
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