'Criminal' : Addicks fans react to released and retained list as favourites shown door

Patrick Bauer, Joe Aribo, Jake Forster-Caskey and Tariqe Fosu have all been offered fresh terms at The Valley but six first team players have been released.

Igor Vetokele, Josh Parker, Ben Reeves, Mark Marshall, Nicky Ajose, and Jonny Williams are free to talk to other clubs after Lee Bowyer revealed the decision was the ‘hardest’ he’d had to make since his appointment as manager.

“It’s never personal,” he told CAFC.

“It’s what we felt what we need going forward and they weren’t part of the plan but those lads were great last season for me, so all I can say is that I wish them all the best.

“It was a horrible situation but that’s part of the game unfortunately.”

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Jonny - Door not shut

One player where eyebrows were surely to be raised was that of offering Jonny Williams a new deal.

Bowyer moved to assure fans that it was not about ability or want, but more that the club could not afford the midfielder who joined from Palace in January.

“Jonny came from a Premier League club who were paying most of his wage and we were paying a small percentage of that.

“For us to get close to what he was on before is just impossible.

“He’s going to have other clubs that are interested in him for sure.

“If the money isn’t what he’s looking for, or if there is any way we can get close to it, then we will be speaking to his agent, we will be keeping in contact.

“It’s not like we’ve shut the door on him, it’s half open, hoping that someone else doesn’t come and snap him up.”

Fans have had their say on the list, with contrasting opinions: