CHELMSFORD: More could leave Clarets

By dward

TWO more players could be leaving Chelmsford City.

Question marks still hang over the futures of Bertie Brayley and injury prone Jon Keeling – who were originally invited along for pre-season training to see how they shaped up.

They could join the latest players to walk through the exit door at Melbourne Stadium, Jeff Minton, Kevin James and James Lawson

The experienced Minton, who joined City in the summer of 2006 following manager Jeff King from Canvey Island, made 83 appearances and scored 28 goals in his first two seasons at the club, culminating with the side winning the Ryman League Premier Division Championship.

The 34-year-old diminutive midfielder made 37 appearances last season and remained one of King's favourite and loyal players although last season he was not as effective as he had been during the club's Ryman League campaigns.

He had played over 250 Football League matches at five different clubs before joining Canvey in 2002.

Midfielder James, 28, joined City at the start of last season and played 41 games scoring seven goals before injury ended his season prematurely.

Originally with Nottingham Forest, the 28-year-old played for several Football League clubs before moving into non-league with Welling United and Crawley Town.

He, along with Erkan Okay, were originally offered new terms for next season but in the renewed cutbacks at the club is now deemed surplus to requirements.

Another on the move is Lawson who has left to join Blue Square South rivals Welling United because he wanted guaranteed first team football.

The former striker, successfully converted to a right-back by City towards the end of last season, made 13 appearances for the first team mainly coming on as a substitute.

The three latest players are added to the seven who went last month. They were captain Andy Duncan, goalkeeper Danny Gay, striker Chris Moore, defender Ian Cousins plus Sam Sloma, Spencer Knight and Lawrie Dudfield.