Transfer News!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 16/05/2001

Lennie Lawrence today confirmed that Daryl Clare and Ben Chapman have been released on free transfers and explained his reasons. With Andy Smith also released, Lennie is moving early to have a clear out before the summer break and begin the rebuilding of the squad.

With his hopes high for next season He will need to know who of the current squad will be re-signing contracts.

"I'm giving Daryl a free, he needs to move on. I think he wants it himself and he needs to be a free so that he can go and get playing somewhere," Lawrence told the Grimsby Telegraph. "He might hit it off somewhere else."

Chapman still has a year on his contract but Lawrence obviously sees him as having no chance of getting to first team status in the first division.

Richard Smith on the other hand has been offered a month to month contract owing to his long running injury problems and has been told to prove his fitness before a longer contract will be offered.

Kingsley Black who was thought to be out of favour is also to be offered a new contract and Lawrence is hoping to do that over the next few days.

"In a lot of ways I'd like to keep Kingsley," Said Lawrence. "He might get offers to go elsewhere and he's a great pro who has a huge influence on the youngsters. Even if he's in the Reserves he's worth his money for that. And next season if he gets a good pre-season under his belt, who knows?"

"I haven't shut the door in his face and I've discussed the situation with him. I haven't made him an offer but we've talked it over and we'll speak again in a week."

Question marks still hang over Handyside and Donovan who is rumoured to be willing to stay if the terms are right. Handyside on the other hand who is waiting until his contract expires in July is obviously looking for offers from elsewhere and is almost a certainty not to be with Town in the new season.

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