Released list runs to 12 as JFH looks to rebuild
FEW SURPRISES BUT NEWS IS AWAITED ON TEN MORE
JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink’s rebuilding of the Burton Albion squad has begun in earnest with the release of 12 players whose contracts were up.
There were few surprises in the list but the end of their time with the Brewers for academy graduates Ben Fox and Reece Hutchinson, especially, demonstrates what we already knew – that professional football can be a ruthless business.
Sentiment will not have entered into Hasselbaink’s thinking but he is not alone among football managers in that sense.
Paul Peschisolido ended record appearance holder Darren Stride’s time with the club. Gary Rowett called time on club legends Aaron Webster and John Mcgrath. It happens.
The experienced players who are definitely leaving are Colin Daniel, John-joe O’toole, Neal Eardley, Stephen Quinn, Mike Fondop and Luke Varney.
The younger players now looking for a new challenge are Fox, Hutchinson, Owen Gallacher and Jevan Anderson and they are joined by academy graduates Tom Armitage and Ben Hart.
The club have yet to release a list of those out of contract who are being offered new deals but, working through the first-team squad as listed on the website,there are 10 on that list.
Six are senior players: Ben Garratt, Kieran Wallace, Michael Bostwick and Ryan Edwards are out of contract but not released, while Danny Rowe and Michael Mancienne arrived on short-term deals in February and Hasselbaink has already hinted that they will both be offered the chance to stay.
In addition academy graduates Callum Hawkins, Charlie Williams, Tom Hewlett and Jakub Niemczyk are listed in the first team squad, having been in match-day squads this season and also have not been released.
Wallace and Hewlett are both recovering from serious injuries which cut short their season.
Here is the situation with each of the main players.
RELEASED
Colin Daniel: Now 33, he had an 18-month deal, followed by a oneyear deal signed last summer, and made 72 appearances in all without fully establishing himself at left-back or winning over supporters.
John-joe O’toole: Will be 33 early next season and a two-year spell at Burton never really worked out for the midfielder turned central defender, who was prone to red-mist moments. Made 56 appearances.
Neal Eardley: Vastly experienced defender who looked a good signing from Lincoln City but, again, it did not work out in 14 appearances before he was loaned to League Two Barrow in January.
Stephen Quinn: The 35-year-old leaves owing the Brewers nothing after rebuilding his career with the club and leading the midfield for two strong seasons. Less effective in his third and loaned to Mansfield Town in January, where a contract seems likely to be offered under old boss Nigel Clough.
Mike Fondop: Picked up on a short-term contract in February for his first taste of the Football League, the 27-year-old Cameroonian was popular and scored twice in 19 appearances but also often naive in terms of being caught offside and conceding free kicks.
Luke Varney: Returned to the club in a joint sports science/playing role but, at 38, made only four substitute appearances.
Ben Fox: Such a shame that it has not worked out for Fox, the leading light from the academy graduates who was set back by a pre-season cruciate ligament injury two years ago. Now 23, he made 52 appearances across almost five years and, surely, will be an asset for someone.
Reece Hutchinson: Hopefully, the same can be said for Hutchinson, who showed such promise at left-back when he first burst on to the scene but a pre-season foot injury stalled him this season, in which he made only two of his 56 career appearances.
Owen Gallacher: Signed as cover for the injured Hutchinson on a short-term deal to January, which Hasselbaink extended to the end of the season. He let no-one down in 12 appearances but it always looked as if he would remain behind other defenders in the pecking order.
Jevan Anderson: Big centraldefender plucked from Highland League Formartine United with high hopes in 2019 but only four substitute appearances in all and loans to non-league clubs were cut short by the pandemic.
Tom Armitage: A mere 45 minutes from the bench in the Football League Trophy dead rubber against Fulham Under-21s for the academy graduate from a local sporting family.
Ben Hart: Three League One substitute appearances last season but only the Fulham game this season for the 20-year-old right-back who was unlikely to get chances behind John Brayford and Tom Hamer in that position.
OUT OF CONTRACT,
NOT RELEASED
Ben Garratt: He concluded his first-year contract as the first-choice goalkeeper under Hasselbaink,
although rested for the last few games once safety was assured. A new deal appears to be imminent.
Kieran Wallace: Tore his cruciate ligament in only his second game under Hasselbaink, in February, but the new boss had already called the versatile 26-year-old midfielder or defender an important player. Remains to be seen what sort of deal may be offered.
Michael Bostwick: Halfway through the season, injured twice and struggling, the experienced defender’s time at Burton looked to be going the same way as his former Lincoln team-mate Eardley’s. Revitalised under Hasselbaink, he was described as the defensive leader by the manager during the successful fight against relegation and a new deal appears likely.
Ryan Edwards: The hugely popular player of the year is the big “will he, won’t he” for management and supporters.
The Australian midfielder is looking at his options but has relished working for Hasselbaink. Will that tip the balance? There will be an offer on the table.
Danny Rowe: The 27-year-old winger’s career had stalled after an injury with Ipswich Town but he looked keen to make up for lost time when Hasselbaink offered him a
short-term deal until the end of the season and he looks likely to be rewarded with a contract.
Michael Mancienne: The experienced former Chelsea, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Hamburg defender impressed when he returned from a spell in America without a club and accepted Hasselbaink’s request to help Burton out.
Mancienne makes the job look simple in a defensive midfield role and is likely to stay.
Announcements of new contracts for some of these players are expected to be made before the end of the week.