Just to re-post the accurate details of who is under contract / when as of today, rather than January...
Out of contract end of season
Hinchliffe Age 33
Hippolyte Age 27
Hogan Age 32
Palmer Age 29
Walker Age 26
Jennings Age 30
Maynard Age 32
Stott Age 23
Alli Age 21
June 2023
Pye Age 18
Kitching Age 26
Collar Age 24
Croasdale Age 27
Newby Age 26
Whitfield Age 25
Reid Age 26
Keane Age 28
Minihan Age 27
Ryan Johnson Age 25
June 2024
Ross Age 24
Barclay Age 25
Southam Hales Age 25
Sarcevic Age 29
Rydel Age 20
Crankshaw Age 23
Madden Age 31
Quigley Age 29
Cody Johnson Aged 16
I’m not sure about Scott Holding. Listed as a ‘pro-deal’ but no contact length
the young keeper Schofield is also mentioned on the first team player page, but no mention of a pro deal.
Hinchliffe should definitely be kept he is the most reliable keeper in division and would be right up there in division above too
Palmer worth another year and there certainly is no sentimentality about that, he is a leader, loves to defend though I see him more as a horse for a particular course in that if likelihood is playing up against a big lad or on heavy pitch where his lack of pace is less exposed there is nobody better in terms of winning aerial battles, against the more mobile sides we will hopefully have a different option to use
Hippolyte has been incentivised to earn a longer deal by us only giving him an initial 6 months, he has shown his ability and versatility in spades in rand should get another year with a further 12 month option, a real quality find for us
Schofield seems highly rated by those around youth team so may be kept on and loaned out
Stott
Maynard
Walker
All certain to leave
Hogan and Jennings I think both will leave, my mate spoke to Hogan a week or so ago and he said he wasnt expecting anything and Connor is at stage where he needs regular football which he wont get with us, but both will go with fans best wishes im sure
Ross is going to be surplus to requirements i think but has 2yr remaining so could be tricky to move on, but im sure is going to available to any takers
Same as with Barclay though he is of age and scope to perhaps stake a claim to stay given he has played as high as L1 level
Alli could go anyway really he been used in Cheshire Senior Cup matches and will be monitoring his progress at Chorley but not sure will ever quite reach standard needed, he actually may be more likely to get a deal now we are in L2 rather than NL as there is a limit on 20 outfield players over age 21, so as a younger player he wouldnt be restricted by that criteria so could be kept on as backup with more time spent on loan with recall options so we can see how he progresses too as is low risk in terms of finances
Cody Johnson i'd like to see get some minutes with us next year and maybe a loan out for regular football, another u21 that doesnt count towards squad size
Sam Byrne alluded to maybe us looking to secure Ashby-Hammond on loan next season maybe with scope to him being 1st choice, not sure that will happen now as sure Fulham would want him playing regularly
Cannon is on a good contract at Hull but seems destined to leave, he could be better pressed long term to play regularly with us if we offered say a longer term 3yr deal, but will have plenty of interest elsewhere his interview was a bit coy and I think he will stay higher up the leagues
ZFA and Duffus I would think were brought in to supplement squad in short term, I reckon club will have higher priority targets now and unlikely will be signed
Of the ones under contract Kitching I imagine will be available for transfer hasnt quite hit heights he did pre injury and seems fallen down pecking order and DC let him go from Hartlepool too
Reid will probably be paid up if he wont leave of his own volition, been told he has rejected 6 moves away to go and play and doesnt seem arsed
Newby for me I would look to move on, stepped in at right wing back and done a job for us, but lacks final delivery and quality and NL is his ceiling
Minihan, lives and breathes the club and loves it here but wont be getting regular football and another sadly I think has reached his ceiling and isnt dynamic enough as a wingback and another at stage in career needs regular games so I think moving on would suit all parties, which is sad to say as he is in and around club legend status
Pye a low risk signing so see how he develops and will surely be loaned out again
Whitfield i would like to see come again with us was shining light under Rusk, and unfortunate to pick up injury in DC 1st game, all depends on who we plan to bring in so could go either way with him
Keane I would personally keep hold of, for me he probably better equipped in many ways for L2 as Palmer as more mobile and shown his worth in the run in, covers a lot of bases for us
R.Johnson sure will be in and around squad but imagine may be looking for a better 1st choice option for LCB given Port Vale let him go from that level could also play middle of a 3 though and sure will get plenty of game time
Then got the obvious spine of side Sarce, Collar, Croasdale, Madden, Rydel, MSH who will all play a big part next year
Quigley is interesting one not sure he been fit and reckon we have nursed him through, with a full preseason and period of rest behind him I can see the Quigs we know he can be but I imagine we will be looking for a better option there, and given his age he approaching 30 we could decide find a taker for him now while we may be able command some sort of fee for him, but would be happy for him to stay around certainly as backup because I think may see different player next year if we get him right
Crankshaw, been a victim of type of player he is that he was better as impact sub in order to maintain intensity which meant he got less starts as really one of the few players we have of that ilk, bring in another similar player and he could end up getting more starts next year if we have other options in squad to bring on and maintain that intensity
In terms of reinforcements, another backup GK be it loan or whatever needed, right and left side CB's as a minimum that can play and more mobile, another energetic midfielder or two if we dont yet see C.Johnson as being ready, Powerful, tall goalscorer and another option to challenge Madden, a utility attacker that can cover no 10 and play down sides, a right wingback certainly and maybe a left wingback (though we do have Hippo and Rydel there but depends where see Hippo best position)
SO reckon around 7-8 maybe on their way in at least
I'd also try and bring age profile down a touch and look for some proven players with potential in mid 20s that can have some resale value too