My Retained List

Ok so to pass the time today I had a look at our squad and considered what I thought our squad would look like next season.

The data is taken from capology.com. I accept it might not be accurate but it serves a purpose.


As a starting point we have 9 players who are out of contract, saving £7.5m per year. On top of these I anticipate 3 of our top earners will be sold, to save a further £5m - thus saving £12.5 million off the wage bill

This would leave us with 16 players so the next step would be to promote 3 from the Under 21s

That would leave us with:
3 x Goalkeepers
8 x Defenders
5 x Midfielders - So I would look to add 2 decent midfielders around the £10k bracket each - to make 7
3 x Strikers - So I would look to add another Championship Striker and someone like Charlie Kelman - to make 5

CCFC 2025-26.jpg

Any thoughts?

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Kelman I feel will be with QPR next season after his success this season - but agree that someone like him would be useful.

We are definitely light in the toughness division, L1 is more physical and I really think we need to add some brute force to the squad.

Simic I’m torn on - I think he could be useful next season for us in L1. After all, he has played champions league football, so Port Vale isn’t exactly too daunting.

I agree I was really torn on him as well. Hopefully he'll prove that he can tear division 1 apart

Just interesting in what others feel our side will be next season - and as to whether others would offer contracts to those whose contracts expire this season

Just interesting in what others feel our side will be next season - and as to whether others would offer contracts to those whose contracts expire this season

If think about offloading Willock and Daaland if possible. Need a pacy direct winger (in the same mould as NML).

Just interesting in what others feel our side will be next season - and as to whether others would offer contracts to those whose contracts expire this season

I would offer Rino a new contract if he was to accept a lower salary.

I agree with all 3 of those. One thing we have really missed this season is pace and as a result our "tempo" has been lacking all season.

There is a huge difference in tempo watching CCFC then watching Wales.

Rinamhota if we can tie a new deal at £10k I would go for that. Daland and Willock are two slow in my opinion - and Daland worries me every time he gets the ball.

The only reason why I included them in the squad was because their contracts expire in 2027 and 2028 and they can refuse to go if they want.

We desperately need to recruit some pace to the team.. we’ve been so short of it for far far too long

Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water. In League One Joe Ralls experience would invaluable and a fit Ramsey on a pay per play basis would be head and shoulders above everyone else in the Division.

You're asking a lot to only sell three players who are under contract.

Six or seven under contract will leave, but we need to replace them with players who are suited to the league we're in.

People need to realise that L1 is a lot different to the Championship.

The way teams play is not the same. We have to be prepared for that.

f**k me we paying salach the same as Colwill.
That’s a lot of money for pointless step over and wayward shots.
This shows how badly run we are.

You're asking a lot to only sell three players who are under contract.

Six or seven under contract will leave, but we need to replace them with players who are suited to the league we're in.

People need to realise that L1 is a lot different to the Championship.

The way teams play is not the same. We have to be prepared for that.

Hi Ned

Yes agree with you. Tbh I was working on the basis that those players under contract might not want to leave. If the club hasnt applied a Relegation Wage Reduction I suspect some of them will just stay and pick up more than they might get elsewhere.

I hope I am wrong.

The template is there so that others can see when contracts end.

I do agree with you though - I think we need another 7 or so players to succeed in what will ultimately be a very difficult and very different division to th Championship.