The full retained list is as follows: Lee Andrews, Mark Birch, Stuart Bell, Michael Dickinson, Richie Foran, Mick Galloway, Lee Maddison, Peter Murphy, Will McDonagh, Marc Nixon, Mark Thurstan, Adam Thwaites, Luke Weaver, Stuart Whitehead and Brian Wake. The players being released are: Jonny Allan, Steve Halliday, Alex Haddow, Lee Hoolickin, Tony Hopper, John Hore, Michael Jack, Peter Keen, Craig Lewis, Kyle May, Craig McAughtrie, Dave Rogers, Steven Rooke, Steve Soley, Ian Stevens and Mark Winstanley. This leaves the Cumbrians with just fifteen professionals on their books, five of whom have little or no first team experience. Although the 16 released players are free to negotiate with other clubs, United may be banking on some of them still being available in August when they could be re-signed. However, financial pressure will almost certainly mean the wage bill will have to be slashed. At the moment the released players have not been paid their wages for last month and have been offered a paltry sum for the rest of their contracts which represents about 40% of the amount owed. The in-contract players are believed to have been paid the full amounts. The players union (PFA) are now in talks with United's directors after being contacted by players yesterday. In the worst scenario, the new manager may have to work with just the 15 staying on, and dip into the YTS ranks to flesh out his subs bench. The ruling Knighton family have already stated that they plan to use youth players next season after initially threatening to quit the Football League altogether. League hand United lifeline The Football League have handed cash-starved United a lifeline with the news that they will almost certainly allow clubs that have gone into administration or receivership the opportunity to start their fixtures next season. Normally, the League do not allow crisis clubs to commence their fixtures until they have come out of administration. But the collapse of ITV Digital with the subsequent £189 million shortfall in revenues to league clubs means at least a dozen could be in the hands of liquidators come August when the new season kicks off. United have been tipped as one of the clubs in greatest danger. They are £2m in debt and owner Michael Knighton has refused to sell his majority shareholding to potential new investors. The Cumbrians made an estimated £750,000 in gate receipts last season, believed to be at least £200,000 down on the previous campaign and with fans this week voting 91% in favour of an all-out boycott of home games next season if Knighton doesn't leave, the club's cash flow problem is set to escalate. Picture from News & Star |
