Port Vale have announced their retained list which sees eight players departing including Ethan Chislett and Nathan Smith.
The released players
Defender Nathan Smith departs after a nine year spell in the first-team which saw him record 428 appearances and seventh place in the all-time playing records.
Midfielder Ethan Chislett is the second most eye-catching name on the released list. The former AFC Wimbledon player joined two seasons ago and made 82 appearances, scoring fifteen times.
Defender Dan Jones has not featured this season after being loaned to National League Gateshead. He departs after four years at the club, making 71 appearances.
Veteran Jason Lowe, now aged 33, departs after a two-year spell during which he played 55 times.
Winger Diamond Edwards has barely featured after being signed on a one-year deal. The 21 year-old scored on his debut but made just three more appearances and has been on loan at Weymouth and Hampton and Richmond.
Midfielder Rakeem Harper made 22 appearances, scoring twice since joining the club on a short-term contract.
Utility man Tom Sang, aged 25, made 28 League appearances last season and made a total of 80 appearances for the Valiants, scoring once.
Youth team graduate Andrew Buah made four appearances for the first-team.
Contract extensions
Wingback Kyle John has been handed an unknown contract extension after an impressive debut season with the club.
Defender Jesse Debrah has also been handed an undisclosed extension after being a regular in Vale’s promotion campaign.
Goalkeeper Arron Davies is yet to feature for the first-team but has been handed a one-year extension.
In negotiations
Wingback Mitch Clark, one of the stand-out players of the second-half of the season is in negotiations over a new contract.
Under contract players
In contract to 2026 (8):
Ben Amos, Connor Hall, Ben Heneghan, Sam Hart, Jayden Stockley, Ben Lomax, Funso Ojo, Ryan Croasdale, Ben Garrity
In contract to 2027 (5):
George Byers, Lorent Tolaj, Ruari Paton, Ronan Curtis, James Plant, Jack Shorrock
In contract to 2028 (1):
Jaheim Headley
In contract to 2029 (1):
Rhys Walters
Pretty much as expected apart from Smith who made a big difference to the defence in the second half of the season. Darren Moore has got to find somebody exceptional to replace him. A big thank you to Nathan for everything and I am sure there will be a number of clubs chasing his signature all the best.
What is the position with Jack Shorrock?
@Martin Johnson the article is now amended to include Shorrock whose contract runs till 2027.
Whatever the reasons for Smith’s exit, the Vale stalwart will be missed by supporters but is assured of attracting new career offers from clubs in both League 1 and League 2. Perhaps top of that list will be Bristol Rovers managed by Darrell Clarke. The decision to release Chislett isn’t surprising because he’s been regularly overlooked. The question now is whether Moore can sign better replacements. No real surprises with the others players released.
It will be interesting to see what happens with under contract duo Ojo and Paton. Reintegrated into the squad as cover/competition or loaned out/sold?
Who knew we had 4 Ben’s,3 too many to make an impact in league 1.BIG THANKS to Nathan Smith
It seems that we have players on good contracts who have no future at the club. The manager is now looking a lower number squad but we have no reserve team to get players fit after injuries. Too many times it occurred last season that players came back from long term injuries and not match fit. Big summer on recruitment to get the balance right.
Smith and Chislet, our 2 best players. Garrity will be next. The only players in the squad capable of hacking in L1.