On Tuesday afternoon, Peterborough United announced their retained and released list ahead of the 2019/2020 League One campaign.
Marcus Maddison and Conor O’Malley have had extensions triggered in their contracts, while loan players Lee Tomlin, Kyle Dempsey, Daniel Lafferty, Ben White, Tyler Denton and Josh Knight have all returned to their parent clubs.
The list featured some expected names, while Posh fans were left asking questions with some of the players placed on the list.
Transfer listed
Aaron Chapman – Chapman joined Posh last summer and has been the first choice for the majority of the season, playing 31 League One games. After intially falling out of favour under Darren Ferguson, he has started in the last eight games, making his listing somewhat of a surprise.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts – One listing that does not come as a surprise to Posh fans in that of Isaac Buckley-Ricketts. The former Man City youngster only played 57 minutes of football for the club, failing to make an impact under both Steve Evans and Darren Ferguson.
Callum Cooke – Cooke featured sporadically for Posh over the course of the season, making 20 appearances in all competitions. He showed occasional signs of promise, but ultimately, it was not enough for him to impress Darren Ferguson.
Mark O’Hara – After a strong start to the season in which he scored three goals in his first two games for the club, O’Hara fell down the pecking order at London Road under Evans. The Scot joined Lincoln City on loan in January and could make a permanent move to the newly promoted side this summer.
Matty Stevens – The release of reserve hotshot Matty Stevens has left Posh fans frustrated. His strong form for the reserves warranted a chance at first-team football but only made three substitute appearances. The prolific striker would be an impressive signing for any League Two or National League side.
Released
Ryan Tafazolli – Tafazolli’s imminent departure from London Road has been a well-known fact for several weeks after it was revealed he would not be signing a new deal with the club. The defender has been a strong performer since joining from Mansfield Town in 2016 and is looking to test himself at Championship level for the first time.
Darren Lyon – Since joining from Hamilton last summer, Lyon has made only four appearances for Posh. He started twice in the EFL Trophy and made two substitute appearances under Evans, but only made one matchday squad under Darren Ferguson.
Youngsters Lewis Freestone and Morgan Penfold have both also been released from the club. Neither made any first team appearances this season, both spending time out on loan with non-league clubs Nuneaton and Grantham respectively.
Posh fans had their say on the released, retained and transfer listed players on Twitter.
Should of kept Stevens, didn’t even get a chance to prove himself🙄
— BR (@BR_22__) May 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/starplayerbets/status/1125844212602277888
Sad to see O'Hara on the list. Not bothered about any of the rest.
— Bertrand Russell. Peterborough's greatest son (@Mirrorman73) May 7, 2019
So based on this @DMAC102 there will be at least 2 strikers coming in to back up Godden and Toney. Great news on Marcus and hopefully staying put now. Pity about Taff but these things happen
— Gregory Deazley (@GregoryDeazley) May 7, 2019
Absolutely not surprised to see Chapman, Cooke, O'Hara, Buckley-Ricketts and Stevens on the transfer list. Hopefully all can be shipped out this summer. #UTP #PUFC
— Alex Batt (@AlexBatt) May 7, 2019
Cheers sons in tears on the floor now nice one 👍🏻
— cam (@campufc) May 7, 2019
Disappointed to see a lot of young players leaving without being given a chance. Freestone looked useful and Matty Stevens is a goalscorer.
— NiceguyIan (@ianoverson) May 7, 2019
And the merry-go-round goes round again, hopefully manager will have a few years to build a squad. Rome wasnt built in a day!!!
— Cameron de Silva (@CamerondeSilva7) May 7, 2019
