By Chris O'Brien
May 24 2005

Cardiff City’s retained list makes positive reading for supporters, with Darren Williams, Toni Koskela, Willie Boland and Neal Ardley all offered new contracts. Versatile defender Gary Croft has left the club, with 10 other expected departures.

Lennie Lawrence has announced the retained list and on the whole it's good news for Cardiff City supporters. Eleven names have left the club, but only a handful of first-team players have departed and there are no surprises.

Gary Croft is the biggest name to part company with the Bluebirds having spent almost the entire season on the sidelines with injury. He is a talented player who could probably still do a good job in the Championship, but with Rhys Weston and Darren Williams both competing for the right-back spot even a fully-fit Croft would struggle to establish a regular place in the City line-up.

"I knew they weren't going to offer me a full year, but I did get told by the management they were going to try and offer me a month-to-month deal. But when it came to it, the gaffer told me he was unable to persuade the people upstairs to give me that." said the disappointed former Ipswich Town wing-back.

Michael Boulding joined the club on loan from Barnsley only weeks ago, but his move has been unsuccessful and he heads back to Oakwell. Meanwhile, supporters already knew that Tony Vidmar had left to join Dutch outfit NAC Breda whilst goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett was another expected departure having spent a trial period with Torquay United.

Danny Thomas has performed well for the reserves in recent seasons and was touted as a player who could step into the first-team. However he failed to impress when the pint-sized forward got his opportunity and the club have parted company with his services. Michael Parkins is another highly-rated youngster who will move on, with the Jacks already said to be showing interest.

Kirk Huggins, Richard Ingram, Craig Attard, Sean Cronin, Michael Hartley and Jamie Rewbury are other reserves who have been let go by Lawrence.

The good news for fans is the fact that Darren Williams, Toni Koskela, Willie Boland and Neal Ardley have all been offered contracts to stay on at the club. Although Hammam remains desperate to slash the wage bill and offload players, this is evidence that the club are trying to hold onto their better players. Boland and Williams will have to take pay-cuts if they are to stay on, but hopefully all four will stay on for next season. Reserves Jon Kift and Anthony Taylor have been offered better contracts.

An interesting summer now lays ahead as the club looks to chop the size of the squad and wage bill, whilst anything brought in through the transfer kitty will help ease crippling debt. The club have already taken in £300,000 from West Bromwich Albion as their survival in the Premiership meant extra money for the Earnshaw transfer, whilst Wigan's promotion means £150,000 comes our way thanks to Kavanagh's contribution in taking the Lancastrian outfit into the big time.