Gray Gets To Work Early On Next Season's Squad

Midfielder Clovis Kamdjo, who is also out of contract, has been invited to return for pre-season training after a lengthy absence from the first-team this season with injury.

City have released the following players whose current deals have expired: Connor Brown, Aidan Connolly, James Gray, Sam Muggleton, Daniel Rowe, Michael Rankine, Luke Simpson, Connor Smith, and Theo Wharton.

Striker Raul Correia, defender Jonny Burn, and midfielder Alex Pattison have returned to their parent clubs at the end of loan deals.

Manager Martin Gray told the club`s official website: "We have tried to act as quickly as we can so players know where their futures are.

"We have kept some very good players but, equally, we now have to make sure we bring in the right people - senior players who have been there and done it at this level and the league above.

"One or two players have unfortunately fallen short," he said. "There was two or three really good characters and that's always a more difficult conversation to have. But there is the other side of it, where they are pleased to see the back of me and I am certainly pleased to see the back of them.

"It's all about the future now and the future started this morning," he added. "I want the players to come back with a new philosophy and a new mentality about what this club is going to be all about."

Gray confirmed that the club still has eleven professionals under contract and his aim is to assemble a squad of eighteen players before the start of next season.