Last updated at 12:43, Saturday, 05 May 2012

BARROW AFC’s back four will have a new look about it next season after five defenders were released last night.

RELEASED: FA Trophy hero Phil Bolland

Regular left-back Gavin Skelton and long-term injury victim Mike Pearson were the only defenders to survive the cull.

Club captain and 2010 FA Trophy winner Phil Bolland has been released, and Andy Nicholas, Kelvin Lomax, Cliff Moyo and utility man Paul Smith are also exiting Furness Building Society Stadium.

Bluebirds boss Dave Bayliss, who will be looking for defensive replacements during the summer, is confident several players will agree new deals for the 2012/13 Conference campaign after speaking to the majority of his squad yesterday. Bayliss has offered contracts to goalkeepers Danny Hurst and Shaun Pearson, defenders Skelton and Pearson, midfielders Richie Baker and James Owen, wingmen Jack Mackreth and Paul Rutherford, and striker Andy Cook, with fellow forward Adam Boyes already signed up.

“We’ve offered the lads terms,” said Bayliss.

“We didn’t go into too much detail and we’re giving them time to think about it.

“We have made them good offers. It’s up to them now if they want to accept, or go and take their chances, it’s a meat market out there. But we’ve made them good offers and they all seem happy enough.

“Obviously some of them are over 24 and some are under 24 and the under 24s, if they decide to turn the offer down, we can command a fee for them by a tribunal.”

Bayliss has yet to speak to midfielders Andy Ferrell and Robin Hulbert.

Other members of the 2011/12 Bluebirds squad, such as Danny Hone, Paul Edwards, Joe Jackson and Alex-Ray Harvey were on loan from other clubs.

Former Bluebirds joint-boss Darren Sheridan has been appointed manager of Evo-Stik League First Division North club Salford City.

First published at 10:36, Saturday, 05 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk