Mass exodus as 17 depart Brackley Town and just ONE under contract for next season
To say Brackley Town are in for a reset would be an understatement, with only one current first-team player under contract for next season as it stands.
The Saints begin their summer rebuild with full transparency, announcing 17 departures, including retiring captain Gareth Dean and six loanees returning to parent clubs.
Recently relegated back to the National League North following just one win in their final 16 National League games, many called for Brackley to part ways with head coach Andy Whing.
But the former Solihull Moors manager continues with the full faith of the Saints’ board. It’s understood he has been given the benefit of the doubt and is being backed to turn the tide.
After all, it was never going to be easy for Whing to come into one of just two part-time clubs in the division, especially mid-season. Brackley also had lots of injuries to contend with during the final stage of the campaign.
As much as relegation is a backward step, Saints are excited for the future and Whing is ready to get stuck into signing players who are better-suited to his preferred style of play.
For now, though, it has been a matter of having individual meetings with all of the current crop and deciding the best course of action for each player.
As it has turned out, only central defender Kyle Morrison remains under contract. Signed from Kidderminster Harriers last summer, the 30-year-old played 40 times in the National League last term and is on course to remain a regular starter.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any others sticking around, as Brackley have offered new contracts to centre-back Zak Lilly, full-back Tyler Lyttle, midfielders Scott Pollock and Morgan Roberts and attacker Matt Lowe.
Meanwhile, ex-Boston United goalkeeper Cameron Gregory has been offered to train with the squad. It’s unclear whether that’s with the view of staying at the club or not.
Onto those leaving, and the list is extensive. Of those who have been on loan at Brackley, winger Aidan Elliott-Wheeler returns to Oxford United after making an outstanding impression.
Goalkeeper Harrison Rhone will be back with Reading following his brief spell at St James Park, midfielder Callum Tripp returns to the nearby MK Dons and striker Kian Harratt heads back to Oldham Athletic.
Fellow forwards Tahvon Campbell, of Yeovil Town and Ben Wodskou, of Birmingham City, see their Brackley loans come to an end.
Byron Pendleton, also of Birmingham, returned to the West Midlands a few weeks ago when he suffered an injury. The 19-year-old recently scooped the players’ player of the season award.
Now, eagle-eyed Brackley fans may have noticed that two of the 10 permanent first-team players leaving confirmed the news before the club – Connor Hall and Shane Bryne.
Centre-forward Hall, who scored 39 goals in 115 appearances including a hat-trick on debut against local rivals Banbury United, leaves with fond memories.
As does Shane Byrne, after seven seasons. Bryne racked up a remarkable 315 appearances across two spells, netting 46 goals and playing a key leadership role.
The other eight include goalkeeper Jonny Maxted, full-back Riccardo Calder, centre-back Michael Nottingham and midfieders Jack Price and Zak Brown.
Meanwhile, wing-back Ryan Haynes and forwards Miracle Okafaor and Danny Waldron part ways with Saints.