Ian McParland had admitted football can be a cruel game after wielding in the axe at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies boss is allowing eight players to move on this summer after announcing his retained list this morning.

Lee Canoville, Austin McCann, Matt Somner, Lawrie Dudfield, Jason Lee, Andy Parkinson, Gary Silk and Rob Austin will all be moving on to pastures new once their contracts expire at the end of June.

All the players were informed on Wednesday of their fates, and McParland is not one to enjoy this time of year by informing players they do not have a contract for next season.

"It is not a nice time of the year and tough decisions have had to be made; you can't keep all of the players," explained the Magpies boss.

"I want to freshen things up in the squad, and the boys who are leaving us are good lads in general.

"It is not nice having to tell them they won't be retained; but football is a cruel game and I am sure those lads moving on will get fixed up next year somewhere.

"I know how it feels having been released as a player in my time and I have been told I haven't got a job for the next year in the past; and some of the decisions we difficult I will admit that."

McParland now feels it is time to look to the future and move on as a Football Club.

He insists things must get better after a campaign that saw the Magpies narrowly avoid relegation, and he will be striving to improve his squad through what he anticipates will be a busy summer.

He said: "We have to move on as a football club; we have to move on and we have to get better over the next few years.

"I wouldn't describe the changes as a clean sweep, but things have to get better so we're aiming to move on now from last season.

"It will be a busy summer ahead, but we're confident we can bring the right people in."

Of the departing players, McParland opted to pay tribute to veteran striker Jason Lee.

He feels the 36-year-old's attitude and professionalism is something younger players should be looking towards and aspire to.

The experienced striker endured something of a frustrating campaign which was held back by a broken arm which took some time to heal.

"Jason Lee has been a perfect professional in the way he looks after himself and the way he trains and plays," said the Scot.

"He trains as if he is an 18-year-old trying to break into the first team, and when he plays he gives it his all.

"That is why he has been in the game so long and made a good living from the game, and young players and some of our boys should look at how Jason conducts himself."

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