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Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Sunday, November 13, 2011

30 Players On the Books at Edgar Street

A count of the number of players currently on the books at Edgar Street comes to the grand total of 30. Admittedly this total includes loanees, but, as far as is known, our list includes every player to whom the club has to pay some money each week.

The players are: Adam Bartlett, Ryan Green, Joe Heath, Harry Pell, Michael Townsend, Rob Purdie, Steve Leslie, Nicky Featherstone, Yoann Arquin, Delroy Facey, Kenny Lunt, James McQuilkin, Danny Williams, Joe Colbeck. Simon Clist, Benoit Dalibard, Tom Barkhuizen, Stefan Stam, Nathan Elder, Dave Cornell, Tom John, Lewis Feeley, Nathan Perkins, Will Evans, Russell Hoult, Richard Peniket and Sam Clucas (pictured)

Three more players, included in the 30, are currently on loan at other clubs: Sean Canham, Janos Kovacs and Tyler Weir.

As well as the players there are four 'playing' full-time staff: Gary Peters, Jamie Pitman, Richard Sneekes and Ian Rodgerson. And an extra job had to be created when, unfortunately, Dan Connor was forced to retire earlier this season.

For a club with limited turnover, the number of players on the books is quite high. But, as has been well documented, part of the problem goes back to when former manager Simon Davey was in charge. He signed several players on what now appear to have been somewhat over-generous terms.

It's now six weeks since director of football Gary Peters was appointed. One of his first tasks was to look at the quantity and quality of the players and staff at the club. It won't be easy to lower the number of players, as opposed to loanees.

Of the three players with other clubs, it looks as though defender Janos Kovacs will be off the books by early January when a transfer to Luton is expected to take place. However the situation with Sean Canham is less clear. Bath City do not have the funds to pay for him and no doubt can't afford anything like the amount of wages he is reputed to be on. Indeed it's been suggested that it's only with the help of the supporters association he is with Bath City. Tyler Weir's situation with Gloucester City is different as he would not be highly paid and may come into manager Jamie Pitman's plans at some stage.

The players with season long , or longer, deals:

Adam Bartlett (2yr), Ryan Green, Joe Heath (2yr), Harry Pell (2yr), Michael Townsend, Rob Purdie, Nicky Featherstone, Yoann Arquin, Delroy Facey, Kenny Lunt, James McQuilken (2 yr), and Russell Hoult.

Now a look at the seven loanees currently with the club:

Nathan Elder appears happy at Edgar Street and it looks as though he will be here for the rest of the season. Although his current loan runs out at the end of December it's thought that an agreement will be made with Hayes and Yeading to extend the deal.

Dave Cornell is on loan from Swansea for the remainder of the season.

Simon Clist is on loan from Oxford until January 3rd 2012.

Tom Barkhuizen is on loan from Blackpool until January 3rd. No doubt an approach will be made to extend his deal.

Will Evans is on loan from Swindon. His loan spell finishes at the end of this month (November).

Steve Leslie has recently started his second month with the Bulls from Shrewsbury. This loan runs out on December 8th.

Finally Richard Peniket, pictured, recently joined the Bulls from Fulham until December 1st.

Short Term Deals:

Danny Williams is reportedly on non-contract terms.

Benoit Dalibard is on a deal until mid-January.

Sam Cascus is on a deal the length of which hasn't been disclosed but is thought to be short-term at present.

Three youngsters on the books:

Finally there are three youngsters on the books. They are Tom John, Lewis Feeley and Nathan Perkins.