Coventry City have decided to trigger an option to keep Mark Robins stalwart Jamie Allen for another year.
Robins’ successor Frank Lampard has decided to keep hold of the midfielder in the headline decision as Coventry announce their retained and released list following their play-off defeat to Sunderland.
Allen, aged 29, was a key player under Robins and would have been one of the more eye-catching names on a list of Championship free agents. Over the last six years, he has helped Coventry win promotion to the Championship, seal two play-off campaigns and an FA Cup semi-final trip to Wembley.
But CoventryLive report: “Head coach Lampard couldn’t have spoken more highly of the consummate professional during his first six months in charge, saying that Allen is a terrific role model for younger players.”
Jamie Paterson has brought an end to his short return to his hometown club and is joining Plymouth Argyle in League One.
Young goalkeeper Luke Bell has been given a one-year extension after the club triggered an option in his contract, but fellow stopper Cian Tyler is joining two other senior development squad players – Jack Burroughs and Ryan Howley – in leaving the club after being released, all having come up through the Sky Blues Academy.
Robins, now in charge of Stoke City, will be keeping a close eye on potential bargains as he oversees a summer rebuild.
Birmingham City
Released: Grant Hanley (centre-half), Lee Myung-Jae (left-back), Lukas Jutkiewicz (striker)
Blackburn Rovers
Released: Dilan Markanday (winger), Jack Vale (forward), Zak Gilsenan (midfielder), Patrick Gamble (centre back), Tom Bloxham (winger), Jordan Eastham (goalkeeper), Rhys Doherty (centre back), Isaac Whitehall (midfielder), Jalil Saadi (midfielder), Alex Baker (forward), Adam Caddick (midfielder), Paul Murphy-Worrell (right back), Lewis Bell (winger), Bradley Taylor (midfielder), Jackson Shorrocks (midfielder), Nathan Willis (midfielder), Stephen Edmondson (midfielder), Teddy Ramwell (defender), Dan Shaw (midfielder, contract cancelled)
Contracts offered: Tyrhys Dolan (winger), Danny Batth (centre back), Andi Weimann (forward)
Option exercised: Ryan Hedges (winger)
Bristol City
Released: Stefan Bajic (goalkeeper), Ayman Benarous (midfielder), Kal Naismith (utility)
In talks: Nahki Wells (striker), Lewis Thomas (goalkeeper)
Burnley
Released: Nathan Redmond (winger), Jonjo Shelvey (midfielder)
In talks: Josh Brownhill (midfielder), CJ Egan-Riley (centre back), Ashley Barnes (striker)
Coventry City
Released: Jamie Paterson (forward)
Options exercised: Jamie Allen (midfielder), Luke Bell (goalkeeper)
Derby County
Released: Tom Barkhuizen (forward), Sonny Bradley (centre-back), Tyrese Fornah (midfielder), Jeff Hendrick (midfielder), Rohan Luthra (goalkeeper), Erik Pieters (defender), Kemar Roofe (forward), Conor Washington (striker)
In talks: Craig Forsyth (defender), Liam Thompson (centre mid)
