BARNSLEY are likely to release their retained list in the coming week with an exodus of first team regulars almost certain.
The deals of Jordan Williams, Devante Cole, Herbie Kane and Nicky Cadden all expire next month.
Those four plus Robbie Cundy – who has missed all season through injury – are not expected to stay.
Right-back and captain Williams, 24, has made 201 appearances since joining from hometown club Huddersfield Town in 2018. Striker Cole, who was 29 last Friday, made 152 appearances for the club across two spells and scored 43 goals including 18 this season, which made him third top-scorer in League One, but he netted just one in the last 18.
Scottish left wing-back Cadden has played 92 games since joining from Forest Green Rovers at the start of last season, scoring nine goals. Midfielder Kane played 123 games after joining from Liverpool in 2020, netting 14 goals including ten this season.
Centre-back Cundy, who will be 27 this month, joined from Bristol City at the start of last season and made 31 appearances last season, scoring twice.
Matty Wolfe, who has not played all season due to long-term injuries, is also out of contract and still returning to full fitness. Wolfe, who turns 24 next month, has been at the club for 15 years and made 33 first team appearances. He suffered a serious knee injury in January of last year and is still recovering.
The Reds also have the option to add an extra year to the contracts of back-up goalkeeper Ben Killip as well as youngsters Aiden Marsh and Joe Ackroyd. The majority of those options are expected to be taken.
Killip, 28, who joined last summer after leaving Hartlepool, has made 15 appearances in all competitions as a back-up to Liam Roberts. Marsh, the 21-year-old striker from Monk Bretton who came through the Oakwell academy, played 13 games this season and scored twice in cups. Ackroyd, the 21-year-old midfielder from Darfield, has played four cup games for the Reds but never made his league debut.
Barnsley can exercise their option to buy midfielder Conor Grant from MK Dons after he spent the second half of the season on loan, starting only twice but impressing in the play-offs as a substitute. That decision is likely to be left until a new head coach is appointed.
Callum Styles’ future is unclear after he played 12 games on loan from Barnsley late in the season. He has been selected for Hungary in the European Championships in Germany next month.
