Pic: Andy Nunn
BARROW boss Paul Cox says the club cannot afford to “stand still” after five out of contract players – including skipper Danny Livesey – weren’t offered new deals.
Former Carlisle defender Livesey had been a key part of the Bluebirds’ side for the past three seasons and he enjoyed an impressive campaign last term as Barrow narrowly missed out on a National League play-off place.
The centre-half, 32, won five awards at the club’s end of season presentation evening but Cox has opted not to offer him a new deal as the Bluebirds chase promotion.
Livesey isn’t the only surprise name heading for the exit with right-back Shaun Beeley, an ever present last season following his move from Morecambe, also allowed to leave.
Reserve goalkeeper Andy Coughlin, winger Lindon Meikle and striker Inih Effiong – only signed in January following an impressive half a season with Biggleswade Town – have also been told they will not be staying.
With the majority of the Bluebirds’ key players under contract for next year, Cox has also offered a new deal to Elliot Newby while the club have taken up the extension options on Moussa Diarra, Alex Ray-Harvey and Paul Turnbull.
“As a whole, we had a meeting with the board, and everything was spoken about – we went through everybody’s pros and cons, age, cost, what they could offer going forward, and potential signings that we would be looking at in those positions,” Cox told the North-West Evening Mail.
“It’s a situation where, to take us forward, I said with about four or five games to go, that although we have a good group of players, if we are going to do better, then we need better quality coming in and more quality in depth. That is key for us to progress.
“When you’ve got people like Beeley and people like Danny Livesey, and others when you go down the list, they are very good players, but to progress, the feeling among the board and everyone is that we need a better quality of footballer coming in, but more importantly, quality in depth to add to the squad.
“Myself, the chairman and the board, have had to make decisions on players who have played very well this season. It’s a progression of the football that matters.
“The chairman came out and made a statement that we want to put together a squad with the aim of trying to get this club promoted. We can’t afford to stand still.”
