Gobern among nine retained players

Huddersfield Town has today confirmed the Club’s retained list following the conclusion of the 2012/13 season.

Midfielder Oscar Gobern heads up the list, with the Club in discussions to extend the player’s contract beyond 2014 but in the meantime Town are taking up the club option of a further year in his existing contract.





The offer from October 2012 remains open to Lee Novak, although discussions with Novak’s representatives have been on-going since August and no deal has yet been concluded.

Meanwhile an option in Under-21 Captain Jordan Sinnott’s contract has also been activated, extending his deal with the Club until the summer of 2014, while Academy product Liam Ridehalgh has now returned to the Club following his loan spell with promotion winning Rotherham United and will be offered a new deal.

Six further members of the Town Development Squad have also been offered new contracts; goalkeeper Lloyd Allinson; defenders Tom Smith, James Burke and Robbie McIntyre; midfielder Dale Hopson and striker Max Leonard.

Those contract offers add to the four made to second year Academy scholars Ed Wilczynski, Joe Wright, Duane Holmes and Paul Mullin.

Three out of contract senior players will now leave the Club; Alan Lee, Scott Arfield and Tom Clarke.

Development Squad members Scott Kay, Israel Johnson and Connor Loftus will also leave Huddersfield Town.

Loan players Theo Robinson, James Vaughan, Neil Danns, Jermaine Beckford and Godwin Abadaki will return to their parent clubs.

Huddersfield Town Manager Mark Robins commented:

“It’s hard to make these decisions so soon after the high of Saturday, but the Club must start planning now for the 2013/14 season.





“Offers have previously been made to Lee Novak and there is an opportunity for him to stay here, if he wants to.





“Alan Lee, Scott Arfield and Tom Clarke have all contributed really well to the Club and it’s never easy telling lads like them that they won’t be part of the plans.





With Liam Ridehalgh, I have only really got to see him in training in the last week but he is under 23 so we will offer a contract and see how things progress over the summer.

“Our loanees, Jermaine Beckford, Neil Danns, James Vaughan and Theo Robinson return to their respective clubs now too having done ever so well for us, but we do plan to speak to Norwich City and James Vaughan about their respective plans.”

Retained:

Oscar Gobern

Liam Ridehalgh

Jordan Sinnott

Tom Smith

Lloyd Allinson

James Burke

Robbie McIntyre

Dale Hopson

Max Leonard

Release:

Tom Clarke

Scott Arfield

Alan Lee

Scott Kay

Israel Johnson

Connor Loftus

Loanees returning to parent clubs:

Theo Robinson

James Vaughan

Neil Danns

Jermaine Beckford

Godwin Abadaki