After a further week of discussions the club can announce the following:

Players still under contract

Terry Dunfield

Jordan Hadfield

Francis Green

Martin Gritton

Danny Thomas

All of the above have a further year to run on their existing contract.

Players offered new deals

Nick Blackman

Jon Brain

Gareth Evans

Matthew Flynn

James Jennings

Izak Reid

The above have been offered new deals and have a short period of time in which to notify the club if they are happy with the terms on offer.

Youth Team players offered professional terms

Shaun Brisley

Kristian Dennis

Chris Hirst

Christian Millar

Players released

Luke Dimech

Richard Edghill

Levi Reid

Andrew Teague

Jamie Tolley

In addition the following 2nd year youth team players have not been retained.

Chris Dykes

Danny Egan

Ben Hunt

Matthew Pearson

James Rothel

Danny White

Other players

All players on loan at the Moss Rose at the end of the season have returned to their clubs. In addition Richard Walker's short term contract has expired and he is a free agent.

Tommy Lee remains on loan at Rochdale and a decision will be taken about his future once Dale's play-off campaign has finished.

On announcing the news Keith Alexander was keen to look to the future and hopeful that those offered new deals would sign up for next season.

"The end of the season is always a testing time for players and managers alike but decisions have to be taken and I am pleased with what I hope to be the start of the process of building a squad capable of challenging in League Two next season," enthused Keith.

"It's never nice letting any play know they are being released but it was clear we needed to do that given where we finished in the league last season. I believe the deals we have offered those I want onboard are fair and hopefully most, if not all of them will commit to the club once again. Clearly there is now some freedom to bring new faces in and Gary and I will be busy over the next few weeks in our attempt to add to the squad."

"It is clearly a young squad at the moment and we need to find a balance between youth and experience. But in the likes of Martin Gritton, Francis Green and Terry Dunfield we have a lot of experience and good role models for the younger lads."