SEVEN players shown the door

The seven, added to the names of Ian Baraclough & Stuart Garden who have already been told their futures lie elsewhere, are Nicky Fenton, Kevin Nicholson, Simon Baldry, Paul Riley, Fraser McHugh, Jonathan Bewers and Mark Briggs.

This leaves just Tony Scully and, ofcourse, Barras, of those players whose contracts were due to expire this summer whose futures are still undecided.

Barras- Staying on?!

The departures of Bewers & Briggs will come as no shock to anyone. The duo were signed on transfer deadline day on the last day of March but must rank as the pretty pointless signings as neither have been able to break into the starting line-up on any occasion. Briggs, in fact, never even played for Notts County.

The other 5 players being released means a little more, but can hardly be ranked as a surprise. Nicholson & Riley were both regulars under previous boss Billy Dearden but neither have been able to impress Mills.

Riley, in particular, was in good form for the first half of the season, scoring three goals and a host of assists from the left-side of midfield. It may come as a disappointment to Notts fans that the Nottingham-born player wasn't given more of a chance under Mills, it certainly does to me.

Former Bradford midfielder McHugh was brought in back in February on a short-term deal until the end of the season, but never really suggested he would be at Meadow Lane beyond that.

Baldry & Fenton have both been first-team regulars throughout the season but have been absoloutly useless of late. Mills did offer Fenton, who has given three years solid service at Meadow Lane, a new deal on vastly reduced terms but the defender is now likely to try his luck at another Nationwide League club.

Right winger Baldry was impressive in the first half of the season, but has been in poor form of late and, with Notts expected to announce the signing of a new winger within the next couple of days, he was deemed surplus to requirements.

Perhaps more shocking than any of the departures is the news that Barras' name is not among them. The veteran centre back has been a bit of a liability in recent months and it seemed certain that he would be on his way. Only time will tell as to whether he has, somehow, managed to grab himself a new deal.

More on the not-so Magnificent Seven to come on NCM within the next few days, include a look back at each of their careers here at Meadow Lane.