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McCall forced to wield axe to meet reduced Bradford City budget
THE cull at Bradford City is underway after Stuart McCall released five players and offered reduced terms to several other members of his squad.
The Bantams' failure to win promotion has led to a drastically reduced playing budget being drawn up for next season at Valley Parade.
Around a third is expected to be shaved off the wage bill and manager McCall has already moved by asking the club's highest earners to leave even though they have a year remaining on their current deals.
Among those being released this summer are goalkeeper Rhys Evans and long-serving defender Mark Bower, while also heading for the exit door are Paul Heckingbottom, Barry Conlon and Kyle Nix. The latter has, however, been told he can return for pre-season training if he does not find another club in the meantime.
Among the players McCall wants to keep are Matt Clarke, Joe Colbeck, Leon Osborne, Jon McLaughlin and player of the year Luke O'Brien with the quintet all due to be offered new deals.
Top scorer Peter Thorne will also sit down soon in the next few days with the City manager who is also keen to sign QPR defender Zesh Rehman, who spent the final three months of this season on loan in West Yorkshire, permanently.
Loanees Nicky Law, Dean Furman and Steve Jones have returned to Sheffield United, Rangers and Burnley, respectively but, again, McCall wants to keep hold of the trio.
That means he will need to persuade high-earners Paul McLaren, Graeme Lee and Michael Boulding that their futures lay elsewhere despite having a year remaining on their current deals.
Likewise, former Huddersfield Town midfielder Chris Brandon's future remains unclear.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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