Retention list 24/25

[roversfan99]

20 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Personally see it as cost cutting, they could have triggered an extension and tried to sell for money, yet letting him leave for free.

That doesnt really make sense.

Any potential fee would have minimal anyway and you then risk him staying or having to subsidise his wage, if he even would have considered a new deal.

[davulsukur]

2 hours ago, K-Hod said:

Retaining Hedges is a waste of time, but I know why we’ve done it- because he’s cheap.

Correct. I do wonder if Hedges was angling for a bit of a payrise, as we've been unable to agree terms on a new contract with him? 

Figured a new contract, on the same terms would have been a pretty straightforward new contract signing for both parties.

[JPTSwindon]

Markandy is a strange one - came to us with high expectations, with only fleeting glimpses.  Prospered on loan, but unlike others hasn't returned to boost our squad.  Presume he will be snapped up by a League One team.

[Upside Down]

7 hours ago, CD_93 said:

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/may/19/retain-list-2025/

When you look at the list of pros retained it's a really poor squad.

[arbitro]

I'm surprised that Harrison Wood and Zac Stritch have had their extra year triggered particularly Wood. I understand both will be earning a pittance but neither have shown to me that they are anywhere near good enough.t

It's another example of the low hanging fruit that Gestede likes to pick.

[Mattyblue]

Had a look at a Leyton Orient forum. ‘Decent feet, pushed off the ball a bit easy’… not sure he’s found League 1 all that comfortable either.

[KentExile]

54 minutes ago, arbitro said:

I'm surprised that Harrison Wood and Zac Stritch have had their extra year triggered particularly Wood. I understand both will be earning a pittance but neither have shown to me that they are anywhere near good enough.t

It's another example of the low hanging fruit that Gestede likes to pick.

Strich has looked ok in patches, and is  still a teenager, so that one I can understand, low cost, low risk. 

Wood though is 21 before next season kicks off, and had 3 very unimpressive loan spells this season (all at pretty low levels), has always looked like he could nick a goal at U21 level, but seems miles off it in men's football, reminds me of Joe Nuttall in that regard (not in style)

Edited 12 hours ago by KentExile

[roversfan99]

Elliott Jackson has done a bit of a spin aarticle saying how ruthless we have been with that retained list.

Have we? We have given Hedges a new deal as its easy and cheap. We have given Weimann who is old and injured a contract offer, obviously Batth is a no brainer so that only leaves Forshaw who even then, and as he admits, we may revisit that one.

[AspRover]

Ideally Hedges isn't a starting player, but I can sort of understand keeping him around if only because it's one fewer player we need to sign.

I think we genuinely need to be signing six or seven players minimum at this point, at least half of them regular first team starters. I think we are going to sign maybe four. If we released Hedges we'd need to sign seven or eight, and we'd still likely sign four. He works hard, can cover several positions and is cheap. He's not great, but he's not quite as bad as some on here make out.

Would I trust our recruitment to replace him with a better player on a free transfer on similar wages whilst also addressing all the other gaps in the squad? I'd barely trust them to get the order right at a chippy.

It's all depressing.

 

[Wheelton Blue]

My guess is that Hedges has been kept around with a view to him being a regular starter, rather than merely being a squad player.

[MarkBRFC]

Always maintained next years retention list will be more interesting.

Unless any are sold, then Batth, Weimann (if they sign), Hyam, Brittain, Travis, Tronstad and Hedges will be all out of contract this time next year.

That's likely over half of our first choice starting 11 this coming season.

[Tomphil2]

3 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

My guess is that Hedges has been kept around with a view to him being a regular starter, rather than merely being a squad player.

Won't be for long though he's no stranger to the treatment table.