Axe falls on 14 Wrexham players

25 April 2008

Wrexham are set to part company with 14 players in the wake of their relegation to the Blue Square Premier League.

Mark Jones, Phil Bolland, Josh Johnson, and Jeff Whitley will not be retained.

Wales midfielder Jones, 23, who has won two caps, was out of contract this summer and had already announced his intention to leave the Racecourse.

Five players have been transfer-listed, with Sam Aiston, Richard Hope, Michael Proctor, Silvio Spann and Anthony Williams going on sale.

Loan signings not offered contracts are Drewe Broughton, Richard Duffy, Paul Hall, Stuart Nicholson and Danny Sonner.

Wrexham could have held out for a nominal fee for Jones under existing rules, whose availability is likely to spark much interest from Football League clubs, as the youth product does not turn 24 until August.

But the Dragons have opted to allow the player to make a clean split from his home-town club.

A statement on the Wrexham website read: "After the sad events of the past week, manager Brian Little has made his intentions clear about reshaping the team for next season.

"It really goes without saying that the club's finances will have to be revaluated as we step down from the Football League and many aspects of the club's operations will have to be reviewed.

"It is always a sad time when players move on from the club and we would like to thank them all for their efforts on our behalf."

The club has promised that an announcement about the remaining out-of-contract players will be made after this season has ended.