Garry Hill and the staff at Rushden & Diamonds have been hard at work over recent weeks sorting out player contracts for the 2008/09 Blue Square Premier season, today Garry announced the retained list is as follows:

Players Leaving

Dean Howell has moved to Aldershot Town, signing for the Shots on Tuesday 13th May 2008, the left back was offered a chance at League Football next season at the Recreation Ground, signing a two year deal after impressing Aldershot Manager Gary Waddock.

Paul Nicholls, Andrew Gooding, Alex Bolt and Abdou El Kholti have all been released, and are free agents to join other clubs.

Curtis Osano, and Conal Platt's loans both expired at the end of the season, and the two players returned to their clubs, Reading and Weymouth respectively.

Everyone at Rushden & Diamonds wishes all of the players who have left good luck in their future careers, and we would like to thank them all for their efforts during their times at Nene Park.

Players Staying

Chris Hope, Jon Challinor, Curtis Woodhouse, Andy Burgess, Michael Rankine, Lee Tomlin, Tom Shaw, Marcus Kelly and Sam Smith have all been retained.

Martyn Margarson, Jake Beecroft and Michael Corcoran have all had an extension option taken out on their contracts, keeping them at Nene Park for the 2008/09 season.

Finally Phil Gulliver has signed a new contract, keeping the centre-back at Nene Park until the end of the 2008/09 season.

When asked about how he views the Diamonds squad so far, Garry Hill said
"We're still sorting out one or two more things but I'm very pleased to have got two proven strikers at this level in last week, who have shown why they want to be here, to go with the players so far who have been retained from last season. I think we can be pushing on up there looking for promotion next season."