Derby County have confirmed their retained list following the conclusion of the 2014/15 campaign earlier this month.

Derby County have confirmed their retained list following the conclusion of the 2014/15 campaign earlier this month.

Long-serving defender Shaun Barker and forward Jamie Ward are amongst the players that have been released at the end of their contracts.

After sustaining a career-threatening knee injury in March 2012, Barker, 32, made a heroic return to training and match situations earlier this year.

He suffered a dislocated kneecap and ruptured medial ligament, anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligaments, as well as damage to his patella femoral ligament, in a 1-0 home win over Nottingham Forest.

In total, he made 105 appearances in Derby County colours after his arrival from Blackpool in the summer of 2009, for an undisclosed fee. In total, he has made 387 appearances during his professional career - turning out for Rotherham United, Blackpool and Derby.

Meanwhile Ward, 29, leaves after making 149 appearances for the Rams after signing from Sheffield United in 2011, initially on loan before signing on a permanent basis.

The Northern Ireland international appeared 29 times during the 2014/15 season, scoring on six occasions.



In addition to the duos departures it has been confirmed that Lee Naylor, Mark O’Brien, Tom Naylor and Zak Whitbread will not have their contracts extended beyond this summer.



Midfielder John Eustace has not been offered new terms at present but the club is continuing to review his situation.



Out of contract first-team players not offered new terms: Jamie Ward, Lee Naylor, Mark O’Brien, Shaun Barker, Tom Naylor, Zak Whitbread, John Eustace

Professional players under contract beyond the summer of 2015: Lee Grant, Cyrus Christie, Craig Forsyth, Craig Bryson, Jake Buxton, Richard Keogh, Simon Dawkins, Jeff Hendrick, Chris Martin, Johnny Russell, Conor Sammon, Will Hughes, Mason Bennett, Kelle Roos, George Thorne, Raul Albentosa, Ryan Shotton, Stephen Warnock

First-team players’ loan spells expiring: Jesse Lingard, Omar Mascarell, Darren Bent, Tom Ince

Under 21s squad players under contract beyond the summer of 2015: Mats Morch, Alefe Santos, Isak Ssewankambo, Ivan Calero, Jamie Hanson, Kwame Thomas, Alban Bunjaku, Tom Koblenz, Shaquille McDonald, Callum Guy, Offrande Zanzala

Under 21s squad players out of contract and given new contracts: Jonathan Mitchell, Farrend Rawson

Under 21s players out of contract and released: Ross Etheridge, Rhys Sharpe, Josh Lelan, Luke Hendrie

Derby County would like to thank all departing players for their services to the Club and wish them well for the future.



The Under 18s’ Retained List will be confirmed in due course.

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