Shock Exit! Frank Lampard Favourite Suddenly Released – Now Hunting for a New Club
Former Derby County strikers Mason Bennett and Jack Stretton have both been released by Burton Albion after the League One club survived relegation.
After Gary Bowyer kept the Brewers in the third tier against all the odds, he has now made plans for next season with six players being told their services are no longer required.
Among them are Bennett and Stretton, two players well known to Derby and they now face an uncertain summer as they wait for their next move on a free transfer.
The club said: “Burton Albion can confirm the list of players that are currently being retained or released this summer.
“Six players are still in negotiations with the club in the hope of retaining their services for the 2025/26 season.
“Max Crocombe, Ryan Sweeney, Jón Dadi Bödvarsson, Kegs Chauke, Finn Delap, Fábio Tavares and Kamil Dudek are out of contract this summer but have received offers from Albion in an attempt to keep them at Pirelli Stadium next term.
“Fourteen players remain under contract that ended the season with Burton. They are: Harry Isted, Terrance Vancooten, Udoka Godwin-Malifé, Jason Sraha, Geraldo Bajrami, Jack Armer, Dylan Williams, Nick Akoto, Charlie Webster, James Jones, Ciaran Gilligan, Tomas Kalinauskas, Rumarn Burrell and Julian Larsson.
“Also under contract, and returning from loan deals away from the club, are a further eight players. They are: Elliot Watt, Jack Cooper-Love, Ben Whitfield, Danilo Orsi, Jasper Moon, Alex Bannon, Billy Bodin and Jack Hazlehurst.
“Youngsters Josh Taroni and Jack Newall are set to be promoted to the First Team squad, after being offered professional contracts.”Three players have returned to their parent clubs after loan spells with The Brewers; Owen Dodgson to Burnley, JJ McKiernan to Lincoln City and Kyran Lofthouse to Barnsley.
“Six players have been released after not being offered a new deal. They are: Anthony Forde, Mason Bennett, Jack Stretton, Cameron Gilbert, Toby Oakes and Dylan Scott.
“We thank all of the departing players for their hard work and dedication to Burton Albion while representing the Brewers.”
Bennett came through the ranks at Derby and looked to have a promising career when he burst onto the scene and went on to make 72 appearances for the Rams.
The striker started the playoff final against Aston Villa in 2019 as Frank Lampard made a brave call but the Rams narrowly missed out losing the game 2-1 at Wembley.
Bennett was also fined six weeks wages by Derby during his time at the club having been arrested after a crash in the city.
He and Tom Lawrence were charged with drink driving following the incident which resulted in Richard Keogh suffering a serious knee injury. They were subsequently ordered to 180 hours of unpaid work, given a 12-month community order and banned from driving for two years.
Bennett eventually left Derby for Millwall in 2020 and made more than 80 appearances for the Lions before moving to Burton in 2023. He spent two years with the club and scored four league goals.
Stretton, meanwhile, made 13 appearances for Derby, scoring once before Stockport County signed him on a permanent deal in 2023. But he left the Hatters back in January and joined Burton on a short-term deal until the end of the season. He didn’t score a league goal.
