Solid base

Photo: Alan Howarth

JOSH JOY...Josh Law is mobbed by his team-mates after putting Athletic in front - but he is released

ATHLETIC already have 11 players signed up for next season, with contract offers out to five more of the men who helped save the club from the drop.

The retained list issued by the club sees six players leave, while the five who spent 2016-17 on loan at Athletic have returned to their parent clubs.

Options have been taken in existing deals to keep hold of Ryan McLaughlin, Jamie Stott, Darius Osei and Kallum Mantack.

Contract offers have already been made to Brian Wilson, Chris Kettings, Paul Green, Tope Obadeyi and George Edmundson.

And leaving Athletic are Josh Law, Jamie Reckord, Lee Croft, Michael Ngoo, Lee Knight and Charles Dunne.

Of the six who head through the exit door, the most notable are Law and Dunne.

Law, one of Stephen Robinson's first signings last summer, made 28 appearances for Athletic in all competitions and scored three goals, including the match-winning free-kick that earned John Sheridan a 1-0 victory over Gillingham in his first game back as boss.

The former Alfreton and Motherwell full-back appears to have paid the price of competition for the right-back slot, with McLaughlin, Wilson and the already contracted Cameron Dummigan all able to compete for that role.

Left-sided defender Dunne made 19 appearances, all under Robinson, but did not appear after Boxing Day due to a pelvic injury picked up at Sheffield United.

"Enjoyed my time at Oldham with a great set of lads, fans and management," Law tweeted, while Dunne said: "Disappointing . . . But it's just how football is. Soon be back. Wish nothing but the best for the club."

Croft leaves Athletic for a third time, his latest spell across the last two seasons taking in 51 appearances with two goals.

Left-back Reckord played 16 times for Athletic, but made only three starts after suffering a nightmare game when the club lost 3-2 at Lincoln City in the FA Cup.

Striker Ngoo played 13 times but only made three starts and didn't find the net, while young winger Knight was loaned out to Ashton United.

Athletic have worked to protect their assets by offering contracts to McLaughlin - who impressed sufficiently to be called into the full Northern Ireland squad recently - and Stott, who helped to keep two clean sheets in four appearances during the end-of-season run-in.

Of the players offered fresh terms, Wilson and Green have been talked about in glowing terms by Sheridan due to their wealth of experience. Kettings will offer back-up to whoever comes in as the new goalkeeping number one, Obadeyi has been a lively presence with his pace both on the wing and up front and though his chances at Athletic have been limited this season, centre-back Edmundson has attracted attention from top-level clubs.

Athletic's retained list -

Options taken: Ryan McLaughlin, Jamie Stott, Darius Osei, Kallum Mantack.

Released: Josh Law, Jamie Reckord, Lee Croft, Michael Ngoo, Lee Knight, Charles Dunne.

Offered contracts: Brian Wilson, Chris Kettings, Paul Green, Tope Obadeyi, George Edmundson.

Loan players going back: Connor Ripley, Lee Erwin, Aiden O'Neill, Chris Taylor, Rob Hunt.

Already in contract: Peter Clarke, Anthony Gerrard, Ryan Flynn, Ollie Banks, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Cameron Dummigan, Ousmane Fane.