Sturrock axes stars

Last updated : 04 November 2004 By Andy Parsons

The announcement of Tidman, who is the biggest name Paul Sturrock is slapping on the transfer list could be deemed as a bad thing as this news could make him even less confident in goal but thankfully David Lucas is back in contention for this weekend's trip to Stockport.

Carr has looked nothing short of hapless in his few fleeting appearances in the reserves and first team while it comes as no shock that Craig Armstrong will be leaving too.

Shaw has played well in the reserves but has not had a chance to shine and he has feared the worst for quite a long time now.

Because Branston, Evans and Lee have all been injured recently, they have another month to prove themselves but Sturrock said if Lee's contract ended tomorrow, he would not get a new one because of his lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Adam Proudlock and Paul Smith remain on the transfer list while academy players will be given reserve opportunities ahead of those 'deemed surplus to requirements' by Sturrock.

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu will be assessed when he returns from his loan spell at Preston while the players who's contracts end in the summer have until the end of the season to prove to Sturrock that they are good enough for his plans.

But Richard Wood and Patrick Collins were both praised and Wood will sit down for contract-extension talks in the next few days.