The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Fergie shows a ruthless streak by axing a club legend from his plans
Posh manager Darren Ferguson has acted ruthlesly to axe club legend George Boyd from his plans for the 2020-21 League One season.
Boyd, George Cooper, Louis Reed and Jason Naismith have all been culled as Ferguson tries to assemble a squad capableofwinningpromotion while staying within the new salary cap regulations.
Cooper reacted quickly by joining Plymouth yesterday (Wednesday).
The other three are now expected to leave before the transfer window closes in the middle of October.
“They have to leave,” Ferguson said. “They will not be part of our squad this season if they stay. I met all of them face to face and I was honest with them.
“Theymightnotagreewith
mydecision, butit’s donenow.
“That sort of conversation is never easy, but it had to be done. I can only have a certain number of players in the squad and we have to stay inside the salary cap.
“It is nothing personal. I am fortunate that I signed the players I wanted to sign, but now I have to balance it off. I felt I needed improvement in certain areas and I believe I
have achieved that.”
Boyd, who has yet to commentonhissurpriseaxing, returned to Posh last summer after a strong career in the Premier League and ChampionshipwithBurnley, HullCity andSheffieldWednesday, but he failed to reach the glittering heights of his first spell at London Road which included three promotion wins.
Boyd (34) started 19 games
last season andplayedinafew different midfield positions without scoring a goal.
It’s clear he now lacks the speed and aggression to play the way Ferguson wants his forwards to play.
Boyd is also thought to be one of the club’s highest-paid players having returned to the club on a free transfer. He signed a two-year contract.
Reed did not make a single
appearance for Poshafterthe 1-0 League One defeat at AFC Wimbledon on January 18.
Naismith spent last season in the Scottish Premier League with Hibs, but is currently recovering from a serious knee injury.
Poshhavetantalisinglyleft onesquadspacefreewithareturn for last season’s on-loan star SammieSzmodicsnotyet ruled out.
Posh co-owner Darragh MacAnthony said: “We have deliberately left one space in the squad free in case someonewelikebecomesavailable.
“That might happen in the next couple of days or it might happen in four of five weeks before the transfer window shuts.”
Of the 28 named players in the Posh squad (see graphic above) 11 (marked with an asterisk) are under 21 so don’t count towards the salary cap.
Posh squad numbers 2020-21: 1 Christy Pym. 2 Ronnie Edwards, 3 Dan Butler, 4 Nathan Thompson, 5 Mark Beevers, 6 Frankie Kent, 7 Mo Eisa, 8 Jack Taylor, 9 Jonson Clarke-Harris, 10 Siriki Dembele, 11 Ryan Broom, 12 Reece Brown, 13 Dan Gyollai, 14 Louis Reed, 16 Harrison Burrows, 17 RickyJade Jones, 18 Frazer Blake-Tracy, 19 Idris Kanu, 20 Serhat Tasdemir, 21 George Boyd. 22 Ethan Hamilton, 23 JoeWard, 24NiallMason, 25JasonNaismith, 26 Flynn Clarke, 27 Kyle Barker, 28BobbyCopping, 30SamCartwright, 32WillBlackmore, 34ArchieJones, 35 Bradley Rolt.