Cutbacks Will Be Made

Last updated : 03 April 2002 By Andy Beill
With no ITV Digital money coming in, and still being in the Third Division, Pearson says that the squad size needs to be cut down.

"We won't be carrying such a big squad next season and I think everyone accepts 26 senior professionals is too many. We will be looking at various situations but I can't see anything being decided until after the season."

Ian Goodison and Theo Whitmore are set to be the first to leave, with their high-paying contracts expiring at the end of the season.

Ben Morley and Rodney Rowe, who have made few first team appearances this season, are also expected to go.

Jason Van Blerk and Adrian Caceres only signed short-term deals when they joined, so the new manager will have to decide whether to extend their contracts or not.

Meanwhile, many of the championship-winning Youth Team are coming to the ends of their YTS contracts, including Nathan Peat and Steve Burton, who got first team call-ups last year. Gary Bradshaw still has a year to run on the pro contract he signed two seasons ago.