With the season now over, football clubs up and down the country are unveiling their retained lists, with out-of-contract players learning their fate.
After the elation of winning the League Two title, Cheltenham Town will soon bring out their retained list – which highlights the harsh reality of football.
Nine Cheltenham players – many of whom fringe players – see their current deals expire next month. So, who will stay? And who will go?
Here’s a look at some of the players who will have their futures decided very soon:
Scott Flinders
The 34-year-old goalkeeper has only played two league games this season, with West Brom loanee Josh Griffiths making the number one jersey his own. On both occasions that Flinders has played, Griffiths has been unavailable due to injury and international selection.
Flinders has played 133 games in four years at Cheltenham, but with the Robins going up a league, it is likely that he won’t receive much game time in League One if offered a new deal.
A reliable deputy, Flinders may want to move on to get consistent minutes at another club, especially as he is now in the latter stages of his career.
Matty Blair
Signed on a one-year contract last summer, Blair has proved to be an astute piece of business, playing 91% of league minutes this campaign.
A flying wing-back, he has chipped in with two goals and four assists. Blair has played over 100 games at League One level, and Michael Duff is likely to want his experience at that level. He will once again be a key man next season.
Sean Long
After missing the first-half of the season due to injury, Long didn’t make his first appearance this season until January – which was as a late sub in a 1-1 draw at Bolton.
Over the following weeks, Cheltenham were handed several injury blows in defence, and therefore Long came back into the picture, and played as an auxiliary centre-back – he’s a right wing-back by trade. The Irishman scored a vital goal in a 1-0 win at fellow promotion rivals Cambridge in his first full 90 minutes of the season.
Since that moment, he has not missed a single second of league action. His chances have come due to injuries to Will Boyle and Charlie Raglan, but Long has served Cheltenham very well when he’s been called upon.
Chris Clements
Another player who has had a season hampered by injuries, Clements has not featured since the beginning of February.
Before that, the midfielder was putting in some stellar displays, including against Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round.
However, he has only played 30% of all minutes this season, and Cheltenham have continued to be a winning-machine in his absence.
The man who has never played in League One might once again be denied his opportunity by not being offered a new deal.
Alex Addai
Having spent time on loan in the National League this season at Maidenhead and Solihull Moors, it seems like Addai’s days at Cheltenham are numbered.
The pacey forward arrived at Whaddon Road from Merstham in 2018, and has made 81 appearances in Red and White, but he has not completed 90 minutes in the league since December 2019.
His end product has been criticised during his time in Gloucestershire, with a record of one goal in every eight games.
With Addai failing to make an impact in League Two this season, a new contract seems unlikely.
