Contract expiry

[The_Gun]

It would’ve been a bizarre decision not to renew Conway’s contract, but good to have it confirmed.

Looks like SS is rightly trying to temper expectations with regards to Max next season. If he shows himself good enough to even be a back-up that should be viewed as a massive win. To be honest, given the decimation of our academy in recent years, to produce a decent L2 player is already a big success.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Released/retained day. Always a busy time for your faithful scribe.

FIRST TEAM
Released: Ricardo Almeida Santos, Nathan Baxter, Joel Coleman, Gethin Jones
Returned: Kion Etete, Jay Matete, Alex Murphy
Contract extended: Max Conway, Sonny Sharples-Ahmed
Contract extension offered: Luke Hutchinson

B TEAM
Released: Ben Andreucci, Trevon Bryan, Harrison Fleury, Noah Halford, Ellis Litherland-Riding, Luke Matheson, Joseph Toole, Yestin Shakespear, James Westwood
Extension exercised: Jack Dallimore, Sean Hogan

SCHOLARS
Released: George Barlow
Offered professional contract: Jamie Grayson, Harley Irwin, Daeshon Lawrence, Harry Leigh, Conor Lewis, Emile Oliver, Harrison Rice

----
JUNE 2026
Luke Southwood (6/12/97) - club has +1yr option
Will Forrester (29/06/01)
George Johnston (1/9/98)
Josh Dacres-Cogley (12/3/96)
Jordi Osei-Tutu (2/10/98)
Kyle Dempsey (17/9/95)
Carlos Mendes Gomes (14/11/98)
Victor Adeboyejo (12/1/98)
Dan Nlundulu (5/2/99)

JUNE 2027
Eoin Toal (15/2/99)
Chris Forino (26/04/00)
Josh Sheehan (30/3/95)
George Thomason (12/1/01)
Aaron Morley (27/2/00)
Szabolcs Schön (27/9/00) - club has +1yr option
Aaron Collins (27/5/97)
Klaidi Lolos (6/10/00)
John McAtee (23/7/99)

JUNE 2028
Joel Randall (29/10/99)


---------------------------------
B-team & young pros, in descending age order:
Luke Hutchinson (1/9/02) - offered new contract summer 2025
Max Conway (5/9/03) contracted to 2026 presumably
**Dubem Eze (8/3/05) contracted to 2026+1
**Sonny Sharples-Ahmed (23/3/05) contracted to 2026 presumably
**Ajay Weston (20/6/05) contracted to 2026
**Sam Inwood (17/9/05) contracted to 2026
***Mark Isong (26/1/06) contracted to 2026
***Jack Dallimore (3/1/06) - turned pro 2024, contract extended 2025, probably 2026
***Sean Hogan (1/2/06) - turned pro 2024, contract extended 2025, probably 2026
***David Abimbola (17/2/06) – signed first-year pro contract by summer 2025
***Harry Leigh (19/9/06) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
***Emile Oliver (1/11/06) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Conor Lewis (10/1/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Daeshon Lawrence (31/1/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Jamie Grayson (13/2/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Harley Irwin (9/4/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Oliver Smith (21/4/07) – signed first-year pro contract by summer 2025
****Harrison Rice (18/4/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025

*Stars indicate underage players; number of stars indicates number of seasons (including 2025/26) they will remain underage, assuming EFL age rules don't change. So for season 2025/26 an Under 21 Player is someone born on or after 1 January 2004 – so Hutchinson and Conway are overage, but Sonny Sharples-Ahmed and his yeargroup have two more including the 2025/26 season.

[The_Gun]

Thanks as ever, DSB. It’s quite surprising that one of these big football data sites doesn’t allow you to view all squads in this format.

Anyway, I wonder if it’s a certainty that all scholars we’ve offered contracts to end up signing them? They’re clearly a relatively talented bunch, so I wouldn’t be surprised if other clubs are sniffing around.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Thanks as ever, DSB. It’s quite surprising that one of these big football data sites doesn’t allow you to view all squads in this format.

Anyway, I wonder if it’s a certainty that all scholars we’ve offered contracts to end up signing them? They’re clearly a relatively talented bunch, so I wouldn’t be surprised if other clubs are sniffing around.

You're welcome - I do it to keep my head clear, but may as well share the spoils.

As for the kids they've clearly enjoyed themselves and can see a first-team pathway, but yeah - they may be spirited away. We lost a Frimpong earlier this season.

[Harry Genshaw]

Speaking of kids; I see Regan Riley was released by Radcliffe Borough yesterday. There's such a fine line, and a lot of luck, between those that carve a career in football for themselves and those who fall by the wayside.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

First five in – and one out.

----
JUNE 2026
Teddy Sharman-Lowe (30/03/03) - 12-month loan from Chelsea, where he is contracted until 2028
Luke Southwood (6/12/97) - club has +1yr option
Will Forrester (29/06/01)
George Johnston (1/9/98)
Josh Dacres-Cogley (12/3/96)
Jordi Osei-Tutu (2/10/98)
Kyle Dempsey (17/9/95)
Carlos Mendes Gomes (14/11/98)
Victor Adeboyejo (12/1/98)
Dan Nlundulu (5/2/99)

JUNE 2027
Eoin Toal (15/2/99)
Chris Forino (26/04/00)
Josh Sheehan (30/3/95)
George Thomason (12/1/01)
Aaron Morley (27/2/00)
Szabolcs Schön (27/9/00) - club has +1yr option
Charlie Warren (DOB unknown) - club has +1yr option
Klaidi Lolos (6/10/00)
John McAtee (23/7/99)

JUNE 2028
Richard Taylor (02/10/00)
Joel Randall (29/10/99)

JUNE 2029
Xavier Simons (20/02/03)
Sam Dalby (07/12/99)

---------------------------------
B-team & young pros, in descending age order:
Luke Hutchinson (1/9/02) - contracted to 2027
Max Conway (5/9/03) contracted to 2026 presumably
**Dubem Eze (8/3/05) contracted to 2026+1
**Sonny Sharples-Ahmed (23/3/05) contracted to 2026 presumably
**Ajay Weston (20/6/05) contracted to 2026
**Sam Inwood (17/9/05) contracted to 2026
***Mark Isong (26/1/06) contracted to 2026
***Jack Dallimore (3/1/06) - turned pro 2024, contract extended 2025, probably 2026
***Sean Hogan (1/2/06) - turned pro 2024, contract extended 2025, probably 2026
***David Abimbola (17/2/06) – signed first-year pro contract by summer 2025
***Harry Leigh (19/9/06) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
***Emile Oliver (1/11/06) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Conor Lewis (10/1/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Daeshon Lawrence (31/1/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Jamie Grayson (13/2/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Harley Irwin (9/4/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Oliver Smith (21/4/07) – signed first-year pro contract by summer 2025
****Harrison Rice (18/4/07) – offered first-year pro contract summer 2025

*Stars indicate underage players; number of stars indicates number of seasons (including 2025/26) they will remain underage, assuming EFL age rules don't change. So for season 2025/26 an Under 21 Player is someone born on or after 1 January 2004 – so Conway is overage, but Sonny Sharples-Ahmed and his yeargroup have two more including the 2025/26 season.

[knobpolisher]

The June 26 expirations are interesting, really can't see more than two being offered or extended no matter which division we are in

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The June 26 expirations are interesting, really can't see more than two being offered or extended no matter which division we are in

Aye.

Right now you'd get very long odds on extensions for Southwood, Dempsey, Mendes Gomes, Adeboyejo and Nlundulu.

I assume you mean Cogz and JOT to be extended - but note that Cogz will be 30 then, so we'll have to make sure his batteries aren't running down... while JOT might need an injury-free spell to pass Schumacher's 'robustness' test.

In the middle of those two camps, Forrester and Johnston might have to step up to prove their worth - but I'm not entirely sure they'll get the chance...

[knobpolisher]

Yep agree , Forrester is in with a shout but a big season for him coming up.

[Worthy4England]

JOT wouldn't merit getting a paper round right now, let alone any sort of extension. That's not "he's shit," just not done enough so far to earn even the notion, he might get an extension. He has an opportunity this year to prove he's worth the ink you'd use to sign it.

[BWFC_Insane]

JOT wouldn't merit getting a paper round right now, let alone any sort of extension. That's not "he's shit," just not done enough so far to earn even the notion, he might get an extension. He has an opportunity this year to prove he's worth the ink you'd use to sign it.

Yep. And first job is to actually stay fit for the whole season and not spend most of his time injured.

As it stands he’d be in the ‘ship out asap’ category.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Updated with some Bs business - Eze loaned out, nine pro contracts signed.

----
JUNE 2026
Teddy Sharman-Lowe (30/03/03) - 12-month loan from Chelsea, where he is contracted until 2028
Luke Southwood (6/12/97) - club has +1yr option
Will Forrester (29/06/01)
George Johnston (1/9/98)
Josh Dacres-Cogley (12/3/96)
Max Conway (5/9/03)
Jordi Osei-Tutu (2/10/98)
Kyle Dempsey (17/9/95)
Carlos Mendes Gomes (14/11/98)
Victor Adeboyejo (12/1/98)
Dan Nlundulu (5/2/99)

JUNE 2027
Eoin Toal (15/2/99)
Chris Forino (26/04/00)
Josh Sheehan (30/3/95)
George Thomason (12/1/01)
Aaron Morley (27/2/00)
Szabolcs Schön (27/9/00) - club has +1yr option
Charlie Warren (DOB unknown) - club has +1yr option
Klaidi Lolos (6/10/00)
John McAtee (23/7/99)

JUNE 2028
Richard Taylor (02/10/00)
Joel Randall (29/10/99)

JUNE 2029
Xavier Simons (20/02/03)
Sam Dalby (07/12/99)

---------------------------------
B-team & young pros, in descending age order:
Luke Hutchinson (1/9/02) - contracted to 2027
**Dubem Eze (8/3/05) contracted to 2026+1 - loaned to tier-5 Scunthorpe for the year
**Sonny Sharples-Ahmed (23/3/05) contracted to 2026 presumably
**Ajay Weston (20/6/05) contracted to 2026
**Sam Inwood (17/9/05) contracted to 2026
***Mark Isong (26/1/06) contracted to 2026
***Jack Dallimore (3/1/06) - turned pro 2024, contract extended 2025, probably 2026
***Sean Hogan (1/2/06) - turned pro 2024, contract extended 2025, probably 2026
***David Abimbola (17/2/06) – signed first-year pro contract summer 2025
***Harry Leigh (19/9/06) – signed first-year pro contract summer 2025
***Emile Oliver (1/11/06) – signed first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Conor Lewis (10/1/07) – signed first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Daeshon Lawrence (31/1/07) – signed first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Jamie Grayson (13/2/07) – signed first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Harley Irwin (9/4/07) – signed first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Harrison Rice (18/4/07) – signed first-year pro contract summer 2025
****Oliver Smith (21/4/07) – signed first-year pro contract summer 2025

2/7/25: 13 youngsters added to Academy

*Stars indicate underage players; number of stars indicates number of seasons (including 2025/26) they will remain underage, assuming EFL age rules don't change. So for season 2025/26 an Under 21 Player is someone born on or after 1 January 2004 – so Conway is overage, but Sonny Sharples-Ahmed and his yeargroup have two more including the 2025/26 season.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Been bored and thinking about squad numbers. Not the employee total (though I have also been pondering that), but who wears what shirt next season. During the long summer days and sleepless hot nights, these things occupy my mind; if you couldn't care less, fine. TL,DR: numbers numbers numbers.

On 5 August 2024, Bolton Wanderers announced their squad numbers for the forthcoming season. The big news, per the club site, was Victor Adeboyejo moving up to the Bod-vacated No.9 from 14 (which he'd only had for one season anyway, having spent his first half-season at 29) and Aaron Collins shortening to the Maghoma-departed 19 from his previous 28.

But looking at last season's squad numbers - some of them handed out to players arriving after that general announcement, just 11 months and forever ago - is a pretty odd experience...

1 Nathan Baxter GONE
2 Gethin Jones GONE
3 Jack Iredale GONE, Alex Murphy GONE
4 George Thomason
5 Ricardo Santos GONE
6 George Johnston
7 Carlos Mendes Gomes
8 Josh Sheehan
9 Victor Adeboyejo
10 Dion Charles GONE
11 Dan Nlundulu
12 Josh Dacres-Cogley
13 Joel Coleman GONE
14 Jordi Osei-Tutu
15 Will Forrester
16 Aaron Morley
17 Klaidi Lolos
18 Eoin Toal
19 Aaron Collins GONE
20 Luke Southwood GONE
21 Chris Forino
22 Kyle Dempsey
23 Szabolcs Schön
27 Randell Williams GONE
28 Jay Matete GONE
29 Kion Etete GONE
31 Joel Randall
37 Scott Arfield GONE
45 John McAtee

Who's still standing?
1
2
3
4 George Thomason
5
6 George Johnston
7 Carlos Mendes Gomes
8 Josh Sheehan
9 Victor Adeboyejo
10
11 Dan Nlundulu
12 Josh Dacres-Cogley
13
14 Jordi Osei-Tutu
15 Will Forrester
16 Aaron Morley
17 Klaidi Lolos
18 Eoin Toal
19
20
21 Chris Forino
22 Kyle Dempsey
23 Szabolcs Schön
27
28
29
31 Joel Randall
37

And it goes further than that. Every player has his price but Bolton have made perfectly clear that there will be exits – and that speculation has affected every surviving member of last summer's 1-11.

Dan Nlundulu is so far out of the picture that the Barbadian journalist who broke the Thierry Gale story confidently asserts the new man will take Dan's (and, going back a bit, Ricardo Gardner's) number 11. Carlos Mendes Gomes has been given pre-season to prove he's worth any short, let alone the sought-after 7.

Any influx threatens the incumbents, and all summer there have been questions over Josh Sheehan (8) and George Johnston (6). It's now said that Huddersfield are plumping the cushions for George Thomason (4). While it's perhaps unlikely that all three will exit, that would leave only Adeboyejo - who'll miss half the season injured anyway.

To show these changes are big, it's worth a small diversion into some immediate forebears. The man wearing 8 before Sheehan was Brandon Comley. The 2 before Gethin Jones was Josh Emmanuel. The 5 before Rico was Jack Hobbs.

But who's in the next 1-11?

We hear Thierry Gale will take 11, and the club has already confirmed that the number 10 will be Sam Dalby – itself another nudge toward the door for Aaron Collins, who'd worn 10 at Bristol Rovers and FGR.

(By the way, it's darkly amusing that a squad stuffed with so-called 10s should now give that number to its clearest No.9 in years.)

Teddy Sharman-Lowe wore 19 at Doncaster last season - existing oldie Ian Lawlor already owned the 1 - but the youngster has worn 1 for various Chelsea youth teams so you imagine he'd take that.

Rather tidily, throughout his three seasons at St Mirren, Richard Taylor wore 5 - now freshly available via Rico's departure. Meet the new boss... That said, another contender for that number is Chris Forino, who wore it at Wycombe.

On loan at Blackburn last season, the luxuriously-named Amario Oswald Gerardo Cozier-Duberry wore 33, the same as his Brighton squad number. Last season Ajay Weston wore 33 for us (he's a left-sided defender, so it makes some sort of sense), but he's been loaned to seventh-tier FCUM anyway.

Xavier Simons is less clear-cut. At Hull he wore 35 on loan then 18 when signed 'permanently'; on loan at Fleetwood he wore 17 and Wycombe he wore 7. Given a choice he might plump for 6 - he's worn it for various Chelsea youth sides - but if Johnston stays, Simons is more likely to elbow the doomed Klaidi Lolos out of 17 than Eoin Toal out of 18. (For the record, Toal wore 6 at Derry; there are eyes on Johnno's prize...)

Charlie Warren scored a thousand goals at Felixstowe & Walton wearing 11, but instead of giving that shirt to our new left-footed right-winger, it looks like we're giving it to the new right-footed left-winger Gale. (Keep notes, I may ask questions later.) Warren will have to content himself with a higher number as he earns his spurs. He may be joined in the 30s and high 20s by B-teamers with a chance of cup appearances as Schumacher and Harkin underline their pathway potential.

Not every player wants a low number. Trent Alexander-Arnold loved his 66 but La Liga rules don't allow such nonsense, so he plumped for Ivan Campo's old 12. John McAtee wears the 45 he had at Barnsley and, two clubs before that, Scunny. Unless he fancies 19, he's likelier to stick than twist.

For some players more than others, shirt numbers can be part superstition and part politics. Does Jordi Osei-Tutu see himself as a full-back or a winger? He's 14 for us, was 22 at PAS Giannina, 18 (and 6) at Bochum, 7 at Rotherham, 24 at Forest, and 2 at Cardiff - a number he wore in a few Arsenal youth teams. With Gethin gone and no right-backs incoming, might he want to move in from 14 to 2? One man nudging his elbow to do so might be Joel Randall, who worked his way down to 14 at both Peterborough and Exeter. But JOT might face competition from Josh Dacres-Cogley, who wore 2 at Tranmere... Maybe Cogz will go 2 and JOT takes his 12?

Prediction (hostage to fortune) time...
1 Teddy Sharman-Lowe
2 Josh Dacres-Cogley
3 (new LB yet to be signed)
4 George Thomason
5 Richard Taylor
6 George Johnston
7 Carlos Mendes Gomes
8 Josh Sheehan
9 Victor Adeboyejo
10 Sam Dalby
11 Thierry Gale
12 Jordi Osei-Tutu
13 new old goalkeeper
14 Joel Randall
15 Will Forrester
16 Aaron Morley
17 Xavier Simons
18 Eoin Toal
19 -
20 Daeshon Lawrence
21 Chris Forino
22 Kyle Dempsey
23 Szabi Schön
24 Johnny Kenny
25 Sam Inwood
26 Luke Hutchinson
27 Harrison Rice
28 Sonny Sharples-Ahmed
29 David Abimbola
30 Mark Isong
31 Charlie Warren
33 Amario Cozier-Duberry
45 John McAtee

Told you I was bored.

[TonyDomingos]

Told you I was bored.

I thought you were on holiday?!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Told you I was bored.

I thought you were on holiday?!

Country cottage weekend break. Lots of thinking time...

[TonyDomingos]

Told you I was bored.

I thought you were on holiday?!

Lots of thinking time...

Sure, but squad numbers?? Is there no karaoke?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Told you I was bored.

I thought you were on holiday?!

Lots of thinking time...

Sure, but squad numbers?? Is there no karaoke?

See above. Quiet country weekend. And I’d read both my books…

[truewhite15]

I actually saw an image of Xav Simons in training, wearing #24 on his shorts.

Could be a placeholder, like.

[TonyDomingos]

I actually saw an image of Xav Simons in training, wearing #24 on his shorts.

Could be a placeholder, like.

Oh. My. God. Are you in a country cottage too? Who cares?!