No deal for Croft as 11 are released

Last updated : 19 May 2005 By Michael Morris
There were no major surprises when Lennie Lawrence announced his retained list on Wednesday.

Darren Williams, Toni Koskela, Willie Boland and Neal Ardley along with reserve players Jon Kift and Anthony Taylor have been offered new contracts.

Michael Boulding had left the club already after an unsuccessful loan period leaving 11 other players out of contract.

Of the 11 Tony Vidmar had already moved on and Aaran Lee Barratt knew he was not being kept on.

From the nine remaining players the biggest name without an offer was Gary Croft. The versatile defender missed last season through injury.

"I knew they weren't going to offer me a full year, but I did get told by the management they were going to try and offer me a month-to-month deal," Crofty told the BBC.

"But when it came to it, the gaffer told me he was unable to persuade the people upstairs to give me that.

"What was on offer was the opportunity to train with Cardiff and perhaps secure an extended deal once I returned for pre-season.

"But it's very vague and there's nothing in writing to say this is what is going to happen, so it's end-of-contract time really but with that opportunity.

"It's a time for reflection now and moving on and perhaps looking at other things."

Kirk Huggins, Richard Ingram,  Michael Parkins, Danny Thomas, Craig Attard, Sean Cronin, Michael Hartley and Jamie Rewbury are the reserve team players released by Lennie.