Bristol City have officially confirmed the contract situation regarding several players who were out of contract this summer.
Former club captain Bailey Wright - who recently played a key senior role in negotiating player pay deferrals during the global pandemic - has been released.
Bristol Live explained recently that Wright was due to be let go this summer, and the versatile defender is now expected to be of interest again to Sunderland after being loaned to the Black Cats for the second half of the 2019/20 campaign.
Wright made 83 appearances for City in total, including playing a significant role in the right-back position as City made it to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup in 2018.
The departing 27-year-old wishes his former side all the best, with plenty of City-related football staff commenting on the character of Wright, as the much-loved Aussie departs BS3.
“It’s been an honour to play at Bristol City and I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy some good times with some great people," he told the official club website.
“It’s always emotional when you leave a club but I want to thank everyone – players, staff and fans, who’ve been brilliant.
"I want to wish the club all the best for the remainder of the season. It’s been a pleasure to see the club’s ambition grow and grow and I am excited for the club’s future and also my own.”
The club has also officially confirmed that Liam Walsh, Niclas Eliasson and George Nurse have all had one-year options exercised on their contracts.
CEO Mark Ashton had clarified recently to Bristol Live that Walsh was now contracted until summer 2021.
While the contract extensions have been acknowledged previously, the club has now made official announcements of those terms. However, Eliasson and Walsh could yet attract offers from other clubs this summer with just 12 months remaining on their deals.
Ashton explained last month that talks on longer-term deals would not take place until the end of the season.
Bristol City have also announced that free transfers have been given to young professionals James Burford, Ricardo Rees, Aaron Sainsbury, Marcus Day and Harvey Smith as well as to Second year scholars Jago Lott, Max Williams, Jamie Taylor and Will Gould.
New professional deals are expected to be announced for Sam and Callum Pearson, Barney Soady, Josh Owers and others imminently.
