Having seen so many different opinions on the players and staff released by AFCB on Monday (14^th May) here’s one fan’s attempt to see both sides of each decision that new manager Paul Groves has made.

Ryan Garry

Ryan has been an excellent servant at the club both as a player and a coach. He helped form one of the strongest centre back pairings of recent times with the since departed Jason Pearce that helped us to promotion from League Two. Unfortunately injury forced him to cut short his playing career in the summer but he was immediately offered a role as reserve team coach and has since been involved as defensive coach also. Seeing him relieved of his duties will be very difficult for many fans to take but unfortunately it is very rare that when a new manager takes the helm he does not bring new staff with him. From a performance point of view under Garry’s stewardship I have not seen a great improvement in our defence, particularly when it comes to defending corners. Perhaps this was on Groves’ mind when he came to this decision. I know that Ryan has been taking several coaching courses over the season so I wish him well and am sure he will bounce back.

Louis Langdown

Appointed by Lee Bradbury following Jonathan Dalzell’s move to Burnley Louis has since been in charge of the squad’s fitness. Louis seems a popular figure amongst the players who will be sad to see him leave but in my opinion the team’s fitness was a worry last season with the players visibly suffering on several occasions during the final minutes of matches. This is the perfect time to make a change before the gruelling pre-season schedule begins.

Mathieu Baudry

The decision to release Mathieu seems to have been one of the least popular of the crop with many fans claiming the Frenchman deserved at least another year especially when Gary Bowles has been offered terms. I am of that ilk due to the fact we’ve never really been given a real opportunity to see what he can do but I can also see that chances would be limited next season if he were to stay. Many have said he is the answer to our central midfield problems, but this is based purely on one fifteen minute run out against Bristol Rovers last season. Whilst others claim he is the best defender at the club despite the player himself saying in pre-season that he did not feel comfortable playing in this position. Performances against Exeter and Leyton Orient early in the campaign were very impressive and showed what potential he has but injuries have seen his chances limited and with Cook, Zubar, Barrett, Cooper, Strugnell and the likely signing of Addison this would again be the case next season. I am however very disappointed that nobody watched him at Dagenham where he was very highly rated and predict a bright future if he can stay injury free.

Michael Symes

In my opinion Symes is a fantastic talent whose release is purely down to Lee Bradbury’s inability to play to his strengths. It is no coincidence that two seasons ago our form dipped when Symes became injured and our best run of the last campaign came when Symes started week in week out. However Bradbury’s decision to persevere with the 4-5-1 formation saw Symes out of favour and shipped out on loan to Rochdale. I believe a Symes and Tubbs partnership could have blossomed next season but again he is injury prone and with four strikers already at the club coupled with the possible addition of another he may have been left frustrated again next year.

Warren Cummings

Wazza will be a great loss but only because of his presence around the changing room where he was undoubtedly the life of the party. It cannot be argued though that his form has dipped over recent years and with Daniels and Malone both ahead of him in the pecking order it is no surprise he has not been offered terms. If it had been later in his career I would have liked to have seen Warren offered a different role at the club but he will feel as I do that he still has a few years left in the tank and that these are better served elsewhere. He has been a great servant though and will always be a fans favourite.

Lyle Taylor

Lyle is an interesting one. Signed by Eddie Howe after scoring 34 goals in a season at Ryman Level he clearly knows where the goal is but he just could never produce at League One level. He scored a number of great strikes for the reserves and shows glimpses of improvement after a loan spell at Hereford but I think it would have been difficult for him to get a look in next season with Tubbs and Sheringham back in the fold. I do find it odd though that Groves started him for the last two games only to subsequently release him. I think League Two is his level.

Jordan Seabright, Paddy Hester and Alex Parsons

Having not really seen these three play I think it is difficult for me to pass judgement. All I can say is that all three have found themselves reaching the defining stage of their careers at the wrong stage with this club. Having Jalal and Flahavan in front of him was always going to limit Seabright’s chances although perhaps working with them could have been a valuable experience. Paddy Hester likewise looked bright in preseason but would not have gotten a look in up against Daniels and Malone at left back and Parsons albeit having almost broken into the side over Christmas would have found it difficult when everyone is fully fit especially given the rumours of further midfield additions in summer.

Overall I can see reason behind all of Paul Groves’ decisions even if some are disappointing. I think as one fan quoted on twitter, “I don’t think Groves can win. If he succeeds, he should have anyway – if he doesn’t, he’s rubbish.” Fans are fickle, they moan when we sign injury prone players but then moan that we do not offer new deals to players who have been injured for the majority of their time at the club. Many do not like change but this is a transitional period for the club. A new manager always brings new ideas, players and staff were always bound to go, it’s part and parcel of football. I for one am going to wait until the new season begins before passing judgement on the decisions made. The important thing now is that we add to the current crop but spend wisely. We need a leader and a midfield general, this is vital before we look at options elsewhere. Over to you Paul Groves. UTCIAD

Nick Case

Scunthorpe 5/4

Draw 9/4

Bournemouth 2/1

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