Championship clubs are following League One in releasing their retained lists for the 2023/24 season.
This week, Birmingham City must submit their retained list to the English Football League.
EFL clubs not involved in play-offs have a deadline of Saturday, May 18 to inform the governing bodies of their contract statuses. While this information does not need to be made public, clubs may choose to disclose it, and it will be available by June.
Birmingham, along with several other clubs, faces significant decisions. Following their relegation to League One, the Blues have over 10 players out of contract. Technical director Craig Gardner has the task of determining which players to retain after a disappointing season.
Ivan Sunjic could be the most costly departure if no agreement is reached. Having joined from Dinamo Zagreb for a reported £6.3 million in 2019, losing him for free would be a blow.
Birmingham also faces a potential goalkeeper shortage for next season, with John Ruddy and Neil Etheridge both out of contract. Ruddy, having played more frequently, might be more likely to stay but could attract interest from Championship clubs.
League One’s season concluded a week earlier than the Championship’s, so many of the teams Birmingham will face next season have already announced their decisions regarding out-of-contract players. Some of these players, with experience at this level, might interest Birmingham.
In total, 174 players from 23 clubs across the second and third tiers of English football have been released, including those from Bristol City, Portsmouth, and Blackpool.
Bristol City
Bristol City has announced the release of several players: Matty James, Andy King, Andreas Weimann, Ben Acey, Zac Bell, McIntosh Boyd, Marlee Francois, Callum Hutton, Duncan Idehen, Dylan Kadji, Harry Leeson, and Harvey Wiles-Richards. The club is also in contract discussions with Joe Williams and Romani Rowe.
Released players: Liam Kelly, Simon Moore, Dermi Lusala, Bradley Stretton. Contract discussions: Callum O’Hare, Luke Bell.
Plymouth Argyle
Released players: Callum Burton, Jack Endacott, Oscar Halls. Contract discussions: Mickel Miller, Brendan Galloway, Will Jenkins Davies.
Rotherham United
Released players: Cafu, Curtis Durose, Grant Hall, Joel Holvey, Lee Peltier, Nat Ford, Sam Clucas, Sean Morrison, Shane Ferguson, Tolaji Bola, Tyler Blackett. Contract discussions: Jamie Lindsay.
Stoke City
Released players: Tyrese Campbell, Ciaran Clark, Wesley. Contract discussions: Enda Stevens
Blackpool
Released players: Mackenzie Chapman, Callum Connolly, Marvin Ekpiteta, Dannen Francis, Brad Holmes, Shayne Lavery, Donovan Lescott, Luke Mariette, Will Squires, Tayt Trusty, Matty Virtue. Contract discussions: James Husband, Tyler Hill
Bristol Rovers
Released players: Sam Finley, John Marquis, Josh Grant, Lewis Gordon, James Gibbons, Harvey Greenslade, Ryan Jones. Contract discussions: Scott Sinclair, Jordan Rossiter, Luca Hoole.
Cambridge United
Released players: Ryan Bennett, Harrison Dunk, Brandon Haunstrup, James Holden, Saikou Janneh, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Lyle Taylor, Saleem Akanbi, Harvey Beckett, Tom Finch, Greg Sandiford, Kai Yearn. Contract discussions: Glenn McConnell, Amaru Kaunda, James Brophy, Mamadou Jobe, Elias Kachunga, Sullay Kaikai, Will Mannion, Jordan Cousins.
Carlisle United
Released players: Josh Emmanuel, Jordan Gibson, Tomas Holy, Paul Huntington, Max Kilsby, Sean Maguire, Kai Nugent, Corey Whelan. Contract discussions: Anton Dudik, Jake Allan, Josh O’Brien, Aran Fitzpatrick, Sam Hetherington.
Charlton Athletic
Released players: Richard Chin, Michael Hector, Diallang Jaiyesimi, Jack Payne, Terell Thomas, Lewis Ward, Kazenga LuaLua, Connor Wickham. Contract discussions: Thierry Small.
Cheltenham Town
Released Players: Luke Southwood, Jamie Partington, Ben Williams, Liam Smith, Curtis Davies, Dan Adshead, James Olayinka, Josh Harrop, Adulai Sambu, Greg Sloggett. Contract discussions: Sean Long, Will Ferry, Liam Sercombe, George Lloyd, Brandon Liggett, Freddy Wilcox.
Exeter City
Released players: Alex Hartridge, Harry Kite, Gary Woods, Kyle Taylor, James Scott, Joe O’Connor, Harrison King. Contract discussions: Zak Jules, Demetri Mitchell, Harry Lee, Caleb Watts, Tom Carroll.
Fleetwood Town
Released players: Ben Heneghan, Shaun Rooney
Leyton Orient
Released players: Rob Hunt, Adam Thompson, Harrison Sodje, Emmanuel Harvest, Jephte Tanga, Ethan Light, Emmanuel Kwatchey, Sahid Nallo. Contract discussions: Tom James, Jack Simpson, Dan Happe, Ruel Sotirou, Theo Archibald, Darren Pratley, Noah Phillips, Makai Welch, Thomas Avgoustidis, Reon Smith-Kouassi.
Lincoln City
Released players: Hakeeb Adelakun, TJ Eyoma. Contract discussions: Ted Bishop, Danny Mandriou, Lewis Montsma, Hayden Cann, Elicha Ahui.
Northampton Town
Released players: Peter Abimbola, Dominic Gape, Ryan Haynes, Danny Hylton, Liam Moore. Contract discussions: Louis Appere, Lee Burge, Ben Fox, Shaun McWilliams, Sam Sherring, Jordan Willis.
Portsmouth
Released players: Sean Raggett, Joe Rafferty, Lee Evans, Josh Martin, Matt Macey, Ryan Schofield, Haji Mnoga, Harry Jewitt-White, Liam Vincent, Josh Dockerill, Mitch Aston, Kevin Bosaka, Sam Folarin, Jack Fox, Maxwell Hurst, Harvey Laidlaw, Koby Mottoh, Dan Murray, Destiny Ojo, Malachi Osei-Owusu, Brian Quarm, Bastian Smith. Contract discussions: Marlon Pack, Connor Ogilvie, Joe Morrell, Zak Swanson
Port Vale
Released players: Jayson Leutwiler, Gavin Massey, James Wilson. Contract discussions: Andrew Bush, Arron Davies, Jack Shorrock, Rhys Walters, Uche Ikpeazu, Deklan Wynne
Reading
Released players: Matty Carson, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Sam Hutchinson, Clinton Mola. Contract discussions: Kelvin Abrefa, Tivonge Rushesha
Shrewsbury Town
Released players: Harry Burgoyne, Ryan Bowman, Tom Bayliss, Elliott Bennett, Aiden O’Brien, Rayhaan Tulloch, Tom Flanagan, Tunmise Sobowale, Nana Owusu, Josh Bailey, Declan Hutchings. Contract discussions: Marko Marosi, Chey Dunkley, Aaron Pierre, Dan Udoh.
Stevenage
Released players: Theo Alexandrou, Harry Anderson. Contract discussions: Kane Hemmings, Alex MacDonald
Wigan Athletic
Released players: Ben Amos, Stephen Humphrys, Josh Magennis, Tom Pearce, Charlie Wyke, Luke Brennan, Abdi Sharif, Youssef Chentouf, Dylan Dwyer, Kieran Lloyd, Max McMillan, Joe Rodwell-Grant, Matt Wonnacott. Contract discussions: Jordan Jones, Jason Kerr, Callum McManaman, Harry McHugh
Wycombe Wanderers
Released players: Joe Jacobson, Max Stryjek, D’Mani Mellor, Nathan Sheppard, Jack Wakely, Kane Vincent-Young. Contract discussions: Chris Forino, Garath McCleary, Franco Ravizzoli.
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