The released - the right decisions?

Released: Lawrie Dudfield, Jason Lee, Gary Silk, Lee Canoville, Matt Somner, Andy Parkinson, Austin McCann, Rob Austin.

Offered new deals: Mike Edwards, Kevin Pilkington, Stef Frost.

Still under contract (until June 2009): Adam Tann, Neil MacKenzie, Paul Mayo, Myles Weston, Spencer Weir-Daley, Jay Smith, Richard Butcher, Tim Sandercombe, Gavin Strachan, Stephen Hunt.

Signed: Michael Johnson (years deal).

Never an easy time for players or management staff, particularly in the lower leagues, the end of the season puts many people's careers at risk. And so it has proved for the likes of Dudfield, Lee and Parkinson.

They now have the task of finding another club after being showed the door by Notts boss Ian McParland who deemed them surplus to requirements after

McParland... Shipped out eight

an abject season that saw relegation out of the Football League come ever so close.

But has McParland made the right decisions?

The highest profile departure is that of striker Lawrie Dudfield, such a frustrating player who clearly has ability and works extremely hard but doesn't do what, ultimately, forwards are paid to do, score goals.

The former Leicester man, who celebrated his 28th birthday just a day before being told that he wouldn't be offered a new contract, found the back of the net just three times this season, his last being in the FA Cup first round win over Histon back in November.

In total Dudfield, signed by Steve Thompson in the summer of 2006, scored just twelve times in 81 games. Clearly not a good enough goalscorer, something Notts badly need after finishing the season as the lowest scoring side in the Football League.

But his effort, desire and love of the club makes the decision harder to make for McParland. Upon the final whistle of the crucial 1-0 win over Wycombe that secured Notts' safety, Dudfield celebrated more exuberantly than anyone, and nobody has ever been able to question his work rate.

And his overall game has been fairly impressive too, with plenty of assists for 16 goal top scorer Jason Lee last season, and some decent showings this

Dudfield... Left after two years

term with the ball at his feet. He is certainly one of few squad members who can create something out of nothing.

It is a debate that could wrangle on for ages, certainly it has all season on the unforgiving NCM messageboard with opinion divided. But Dudfield has paid the price for a poor scoring record, and the writing was always on the wall because of it.

Lee, after a superb first season at the club, was another who was always likely to be shown the door after just one goal this time around.

The experienced frontman was a key player last term, and came close to picking up the Supporters Player of the Year trophy, but he has struggled this term, and with age no longer on his side, Lee is 37 on Friday, a new deal was always a long shot.

Lee Canoville might consider himself a tad unlucky. He has clearly got some ability at right-back, with his pace and doggedness good qualities, but his concentration has held him back. He has been directly at fault for numerous goals, despite an improvement in the final third, and has paid the ultimate price.

For right-back turned holding midfielder Silk, the departure could be a devastating one. Whereas Lee has already enjoyed a fantastic career and

Silk... Paid the price

Dudfield has enough contacts and has made plenty of headlines to be considered elsewhere, Silk has only appearaed in loan spells outside Notts and at 23 must fear for his future.

So often younger players released by lower league clubs struggle to get in elsewhere, and the former Portsmouth trainee may become one of these.

However, his displays simply haven't been good enough, and a new contract would have been a shock considering his poor season. He lacks any of the real ingredients to be a permanent fixture in a side that wants to be successful at this level, that is the harsh reality of it all.

For Somner, Parkinson and Austin the writing has been on the wall for a while now, and so there release is again no surprise. Somner hasn't figured since the 2-1 win over Shrewsbury in early December, while Parkinson has been a fringe player ever since McParland took over.

Neither of them have been good enough, and both may have difficulty staying in the Football League. With Notts being so poor this term, and these players not good enough to play for Notts, there could be little other options. Although don't bet against Somner lining up for league newboys Aldershot next term after a successful spell there earlier in his career.

Austin McCann was already leaving having signed a pre-contract agreement with Dunfermiline in his native Scotland, but few would have given him hope of a new deal considering his lack of appearances under McParland.

Edwards... Will he stay?

There will be no surprises that the clubs longest serving players, Mike Edwards and Kevin Pilkington have been offered new terms, with the two most recent players of the season again in fine form last term. They are certainly deserving of lengthier contracts and the only hope is that they stay with both linked with moves elsewhere.

Stef Frost being offered new terms is something of a surprise considering he has figured just once this season, under Thompson, and was shipped out on loan twice by McParland.

Having broken his leg while on loan at Matlock, this could be percieved as a nice touch by Notts, but surely McParland wouldn't throw part of his budget away out of sympathy? It is promising for the most recent product of the Notts youth team.

Although several players find themselves in contract still, it is difficult not to envisage more players departing, with McParland likely to wield the axe further if he is serious about building his own team.

Summary: Job well done, but the decisions were fairly easy. Could have kept Dudfield, perhaps in a squad role.