Who stays and who goes..?

It’s the biggest day of the close season, aside from the fixture release, for both players and fans alike – the day of the retained and released list. For Barnet though, it seemed a little strange, obviously still with no manager in place. The decision to oversee matters was left with Paul Fairclough. With no real news of note the last couple of weeks on the club’s official website, it was refreshing to finally see something of such importance. Like any other club, rumours circulated on Twitter, before the club announced who was staying and who was going. Prior to the story online, Sam Cox tweeted: “Just received a letter… didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that was coming!!!”, and later on today went on to say: “Unfortunately got the news that I won't be at Barnet FC next season...Firstly I want to just thank all the fans for always supporting me... & believing me throughout my 2 year period at the club...It's unfortunate I never really got a decent run in the side but I can say that... I gave 100% every time I stepped on the pitch/training field...I'm happy to say that during my time I made some gd friendships on and off” (@TheSamCox).

It wasn’t only Barnet players tweeting – the Gillingham players released only found out via Twitter that their services were no longer required. Former Bee, Simon King tweeted: “disappointed to find out on Twitter that I had been released, but I don’t want that to leave a sour not for me ‘cause I have had a quality time at the Gills and met some lifelong friends” as well as “obviously very disappointed to b leaving, felt I was over my injury nightmare and thought I still had a lot to give” (@s_kingy05). Injury or not, I’d love to see Kingy back at Underhill. Other than the defenders we’ve had on loan – the likes of Hector and Saville – I believe since his departure, the defence has really been lacking, and we need a player like him. I always thought he was a great defender that deserved to be playing higher, but the injuries have certainly hindered this. I say sign him up – everyone would welcome him back with open arms!

Now onto our retained and released list. Firstly it’s goodbye to the following: Dean Brill, Sam Cox, Darren Dennehy, Mark Marshall, Izale McLeod, Alassane N’Diaye, and Jordan Parkes.

A lot of the names on that list will come as no real surprise to some. Parkes, despite having a decent first season with the club (after a successful loan spell in 2008), barely featured last season, also having an unsuccessful loan spell at Farnborough Town. It is a shame it didn’t work out for him, because there was a lot of promise when he joined from Watford – over the two years he found himself drop in the pecking order, and when the loanees joined, it was obvious he would have no real future.

N’Diaye, too, didn’t feature an awful lot for the first team, despite coming off the bench on numerous occasions. I didn’t personally rate him; he didn’t really add much to the team, and the fact that fans from his previous clubs have said a similar thing, speaks volumes.

With the FA finally giving the verdict on the Mark Marshall drug case and banning him from all competitive football for two years, it was no surprise to anyone that the club have terminated his contract – not much else to say on that matter!

Dennehy, too, has seen most of last season from the sidelines with injury. He also missed most of the previous season, after retaining a foot injury, back in Septemeber 2010. He made his comeback against Colchester in the JPT, but was soon ruled out again. Injury aside, he was a decent defender, and Gillingham (where he spent a period on-loan) fans sing his praises. It will be interesting to see where he ends up, and hopefully can stay injury-free. Like a couple of the others, he took to Twitter, tweeting: “Would like to thank my boys at Barnet Fc for ther friendships the past couple seasons, thank the fans for there support even thou I was injured and couldn't perform every week, hopefully my boys will do well for ye next season..! Pre season at another club will feel strange but hopefully return to play against my friends soon.. :) #bees #friendship” (@DDennehy5)

Finally to McLeod – everyone knew he would be leaving at the end of the season. Fans from other clubs seem so shocked that we’ve let him go, what with being joint-top scorer for League Two, but it was plain to see his mind’s been elsewhere – ever since the January transfer window. He wasn’t the same player he was in the first half of the season, and after the speculation of “will he, won’t he” the goals dried up and his performances dramatically changed. Although it is plain to see he is a natural goal scorer, his ‘bigger than the club’ attitude and ego didn’t do much to win him over with fans. At the same time, wherever he ends up, he will continue to be a success. The club didn’t sell him in January, obviously because they wanted to retain his services for the rest of the season, but in the end, we didn’t really need him – with the likes of Holmes, May, Hughes etc…

I was shocked, however, to see Brill released. He wasn’t a bad keeper at all, and I’d have him as my first choice over the likes of O’Brien all day long. In my opinion the first job of the manager, when he is decided upon, is to find a first choice keeper – somebody with League experience at our level, and of a decent calibre.

Now onto the players we’ve managed to keep hold of: Mark Byrne, Ricky Holmes, Elliot Johnson, Steve Kabba, Clovis Kamdjo, Liam O’Brien, Mauro Vilhete and Andy Yiadom.

The pick of the bunch there, for me, obviously has to be Byrne and Holmes. I’m also oddly happy to see Kamdjo sign on for another year. For me, he has to be the most improved player of last season – his new role in the centre of midfield suits his own skills and attributes better. Kabba too, has clearly been a great influence on the younger squad members because of his experience, and despite not playing because of injury, he deserves to stay. Hopefully next season will see him back in an amber shirt, and he can remain injury free. The younger players constantly sing his praises; Sam Cox, in particular, never has a bad word to say about him.

Three players are still undergoing contract negotiations: Sam Deering, Mark Hughes and Jack Saville. The sooner all three can put pen to paper, the better. All three are big players that were crucial on survival last season. The official site states: “the future of Mark will lie in the hands of our new manager. The future of Sam is dependent on talks with Sam and his agent”.

With that first bit of news out of the way, I’m hoping the three that haven’t yet committed their futures to the club, do so. The next bit of news really needs to be the decision of the manager, as once that has cleared up we can get on signing new players ready for pre-season.

Where are they now? – Part four

This installment of 'Where are they now?' looks at the team that managed to preserve League status for another season, after beating already promoted Rochdale 1-0 at Underhill. Of course it was also with thanks to Burton Albion who smashed Grimsby (the only other team threatened with relegation) at the Pirelli stadium.

Jake Cole: Ever reliable

Jake Cole

Jake joined from QPR after never starting for the then-Championship side. He quickly cemented himself as the Bees first choice goalkeeper, pulling off many a match-winning save! After January of this year, following a hip injury he fell out of favour with the manager – rumour has it there was a bust-up of some form, and it was probably understandable, yet unfortunate he left at the end of last season. Considering the defence in front of him over his time with the club, Jake was definitely a fan's favourite, and wasn't usually to blame for any of the silly and unnecessary goals conceded. At the time of writing, he is currently having a trial at recently relegated Plymouth Argyle, yet to seal a contract anywhere.

Joe Devera

Joe joined the Bees first team squad after being a member of the Protec Youth system. He quickly cemented his place in the squad and over six seasons with the Bees racked up just under 200 appearances. He also won the Player of the Year title for two seasons, firstly in 2007/08 and most recently in 2010/11. He rejected a contract at the end of the season and consequently joined recently relegated, Swindon Town.

Gary Breen

Former Republic of Ireland defender, Gary Breen ended his career with Barnet after appearances with many clubs, most notably Sunderland and Coventry City; as well as playing in the 2002 World Cup. He joined the Bees in 2008, where he signed as player/coach and the following season signed on as a player/assistant manager to Ian Hendon – leaving in June 2010, when he hung up his boots.

Kenny Gillet

French left back Kenny joined Barnet back in 2007 after a year at Caen which saw him never play. He lasted three seasons before being released in 2010; however when new manager Mark Stimson took over, he offered the previously released players contracts. Kenny rejected the offer and ended up joining SPL club Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Ahmed Deen

Sierra Leone international, Ahmed Deen joined Barnet in 2009 after being released by Macclesfield Town. Despite signing a two-year deal, he only lasted a season before being released at the end of his first year at the club. After leaving the Bees he joined Hayes and Yeading, in 2010 and lasted six months – he now plays for Dulwich Hamlets, a side in the Isthmian League Division One South (the eighth tier of football).

Albert Adomah

Albert was a much-loved member of the squad in his two years with the club. His tricks were something special and his performances were the highlight of what was, a terrible season. He always played with a smile on his face and his runs and flair were unpredictable – the majority of the time he was double marked by opponents, but he always managed to get passed them! He left the Bees in 2010, and now plays for Bristol City where he features regularly. Glad he’s been given the chance to play at a higher level, and he can only go on to bigger and better things!

Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes joined Barnet in 2009, from Chester City, where he was a regular starter with the club. He’s managed to continue that feat with the Bees and is now, an integral member of the midfield. As well as appearances for the Northern Ireland under 19 team, he has also two full international caps to his name. He is still with the Bees and was the first member of the squad to put his name to paper and commit his future to the club last month.

Micah Hyde

Jamaican International, Micah Hyde has been in the game for just under twenty years and will probably be best known for his days Cambridge United, Watford and Burnley. He joined the Bees in the 2009/10 season at the age of 35, and only lasted a year before being released. Now at the age of 37, he’s at Billericay Town.

Ed Upson

Ed joined on loan from Ipswich Town where he never made an appearance for the club. After a largely unsuccessful loan at Stevenage in the previous season, Ed only made nine appearances, scoring a solitary goal. After returning to his parent club, he was released at Portman Road and snapped up by Yeovil Town where he continues to play.

JOF: Barnet's number nine

John O'Flynn

JOF was a definite fan’s favourite and joined after spending six years at Cork City, his home town club. It’s fair to say he definitely lived up the number nine shirt, racking up the goals in his two years at Underhill. He rejected a £100,000 offer to join Shrewsbury which was to the delight of the majority of fans. However, the elation turned to disappointment when he left, after rejecting a contract at the end of the 2009/10 season. He went on trial with Bristol City, but was unsuccessful; consequently joining Exeter City where he remains today.

Mauro Vilhete

Young, hot prospect, Mauro Vilhete was a result of the club’s youth system – he joined in 2009, after rejecting a scholarship from Aston Villa. A tricky winger/forward, Mauro was called up to the first team that same season, but only ever made the substitutes’ bench. However, he broke through to the first team last season, becoming the club’s youngest ever player, at the age of 17. He’s still with the club, and will hopefully continue to progress!

Next week’s ‘where are they now’ will look at the players involved in the most recent great escape of 2010/11 – the starting XI that managed to beat Port Vale in the final game of the season to preserve League status.

If there are any squads from yesteryear you would like to see included in this feature - whether it be from a season, or particular match – don’t hesitate to let me know.

Send suggestions / comments to my Facebook or Twitter.

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