A MASS departure of players from York City was confirmed today with half the first team squad cut free.

The eight players whose contracts run out in the summer have been told they will not be offered new deals as the stark reality of the club's financial situation hit home.

The eight players are Tom Cowan, Gary Hobson, Lee Nogan, Graham Potter, Christian Fox, Chris Smith, Craig Wilding and John Collinson.

The club's finance director Terry Doyle said it was "with regret" the decision had been taken to release all eight players.

"We would like to thank the players for their dedication and service to York City, especially their commitment to the club over the last season," he said.

"Under normal circumstances, many of these players would have been retained. Unfortunately, financial restrictions do not allow this to happen.

"As the new board of York City Football Club we have an obligation to all the people that strived so hard to save the club and we must remain realistic and keep a tight rein on the club's finances in order to secure a long-term future for York City."

Speaking in the aftermath of City's final game of the season at Oxford, manager Terry Dolan said he expected the out-of-contract players would become free agents.

However, it was widely believed fresh terms, albeit reduced, would be at least offered to some of the eight.

The departures of Collinson and Wilding will come as no real surprise. Neither player came close to establishing themselves in the first-team last season.

However, defender Smith was one of City's shining lights last season while the likes of Nogan and Potter were virtual ever-presents and Hobson and Cowan were important squad members.

Fox suffered another luckless season with injury but just a couple of seasons ago was being coveted by a number of top clubs and was earmarked as one of City's brightest young talents.

Today's news may not spell the absolute end of their Bootham Crescent tenures for the released players.

It is possible some could be offered fresh terms by City at a later date and nearer to the start of the new season.

However, the wait-and-see policy could backfire if those players manage to secure contracts elsewhere in the meantime.

At the same time, a more patient approach could prove to be City's gain and the cull certainly gives Dolan plenty of scope for change and room for manoeuvre.

With nearly all clubs cutting costs this summer and hundreds of players being released, the market is now very much in the favour of clubs.

Some careful wheeler-dealing could see City draft in a number of new faces at minimum cost to fill the void.

With the eight players cut free, it leaves just eight first-team players still contracted to Bootham Crescent.

They are Darren Edmondson, Richard Cooper, Jon Parkin, Chris Brass, Lee Bullock, Leigh Wood, Stephen Brackstone and Scott Jones.

Rookie defender Stuart Wise, who has just finished his three-year apprenticeship at City, has also been informed he will be offered a professional contract for next season.

Forward Keith Graydon, who was on loan from Sunderland last season is believed to have signed for Carlisle, who have released former Bootham Crescent favourite Jon McCarthy.

Updated: 11:26 Thursday, May 15, 2003