| Date: 28-04-20The clear out announced |
Today, with the season now ended slightly prematurely, the Harriers manager Russ Penn announced the results of the video calls to the playing squad in respect of who would be kept on and who would be allowed to leave for pastures new.
The three shock names on the list are those of Declan Weeks, Ryan Johnson and Correy Davidson. Others to go include Brandon Diau and Harry Higginson while fringe players Jaiden White and Tom Palmer have been offered new contracts.
Here’s the list:
Offered contracts
Released
Already contracted
Let’s start with the ones offered new contracts.
Tough decisions made
The surprising one there is Jaiden White considering he has only played nine games for us over two seasons and has spent more time with Stafford Rangers this season than he has with us. Penn must see something in him but I fail to see any more potential than some of those on the released list like Harry Higginson.
Both Ed Williams and Milan Butterfield had failed to set Aggborough alight last campaign and Ed had continued to be linked with other clubs even when he wasn’t playing. Alex Prosser began to come good towards the end of the season and, I believe, has already accepted a new one year contract.
Keith Lowe must surely be coming to the end of his playing career with maybe one more season in him so it seems strange that Higginson is being released when he could be a ready made replacement for the old campaigner. Harry will probably join Bromsgrove Sporting now.
Ashley Chambers was rumoured to be leaving us last January due to his comparatively high salary but that now looks to have been resolved so it’s now a case of wait and see what happens.
The ones that are going holds, basically, no real surprises apart from Weeks and Johnson. We know that for some reason Correy fell out of favour as the season progressed but many Harriers fans would be sad to see one of our few flair players go. Johnson, as we were told by Jimmy Shan at the forum, will no doubt be signing for a Premier club or maybe even Solihull Moors while the likeable Brandon Diau never lived up to his videos but his infectious grin will be missed even if his skills won’t.
With the six that have existing contracts, plus those that still opt to go even after being offered new contracts, then we could be a little thin on the ground for the 2020-21 season. The only rumour heard so far is the Chorley FC defender Courtney Meppen-Walter but it doesn’t make sense why someone who is their former player of the season, plays at a higher level and also lives in Manchester would want to come here.
No doubt there will be others so we’ll wait and see.
Photo © KHFC