Callum O’Dowda to leave Bristol City after release as talks ongoing with four players to stay

Callum O’Dowda will depart Bristol City after six years of service, after it was decided that his contract wouldn’t be renewed by the club.

O’Dowda, joined for an undisclosed fee from Oxford United in 2016, will seek a fresh challenge after not being kept on in what is the only major decision made on City’s retained list.

The 27-year-old hadn’t been involved in a match day squad since February after suffering a knee injury and wasn’t included in any end of season games, despite getting himself back to full fitness.

There had been suggestions that he could remain albeit on reduced terms, but instead both parties have opted to part ways as they go in newer directions with Championship interest in him.

He leaves City having made 176 appearances, earning 16 assists and 10 goals in a spell with his high point being that he was involved in the side that reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup back in 2018.

In terms of players staying, the Robins have offered new deals to central defenders Timm Klose and Robbie Cundy with talks ongoing over their futures.

Both Cundy and Klose played a large part of the last stretch of the 2021/22 campaign and there was a keeness on Pearson’s part to keep the pair at the club.

Andy King, who signed a one-year deal with City is also in dialogue with the club and could become part of the backroom staff at either the senior side or under-23’s, as a new role created as a player-coach.

Goalkeeper Will Buse is also in talks to remain. He spent the season out on loan at Taunton Town, where he won the Southern League title.

Meanwhile O'Dowda will be followed out of the club by youthful quartet Khari Allen, Louis Britton, Barney Soady and Nathaniel Williams.

Britton was sent out on loan to Irish First Division side Waterford, where he has scored seven goals in 14 games, and could be expected to join them on a permanent deal.

Wales Under-19 international Barney Soady, has been moved on, alongside fellow left-back Khari Allen, with both players not making the first-team squad.

For some clubs, they opt to put up players who have been transfer listed but in this case, City have kept their cards close to the chest and have listed players contracted for the next season with no mention of their transfer status.

That isn’t to say that players won’t be moved on, despite being contracted to the club until the summer of 2023, with either loan moves in the pipeline or a permanent departure.

"I expect the blend of the squad to be different (next season), whether the team will be different is another thing,” responded Pearson when asked in April how different his side might look.

“There will be changes and the rate of change will be depending on various things. "Some of it will depend on players moving themselves on. Players who are out of contract - their situation is slightly different but there will be a mixture.”

Kasey Palmer is listed as one of the players retained, but after finding first-team opportunities limited last season, he could be expected to move on.

The same can be said for the returning loanee Tyreeq Bakinson, who returned this month from his five-month loan spell at Ipswich Town.

After having a clause in his contract extended, which would keep him here until 2023, Bakinson was shipped out to the League One club after falling below the pecking order under Nigel Pearson.