SIMON Davey’s Darlington revamp took a huge stride forward yesterday when he told seven more players they are surplus to requirements.

Two weeks after announcing the first stage of his clearout, there were few surprises as the Quakers manager announced his retained list.

Paul Arnison has been offered a new deal, but Nick Liversedge, Simon Madden, Mark Bower, Gary Dempsey, Nathan Mulligan, Dan Groves and Mark Convery were all axed.

The two loan players who finished the season in the side, Alan White and Andrew Milne, have returned to their respective clubs, Luton Town and Leeds United.

Shane Redmond’s loan from Nottingham Forest ended two games before the end of the season. His contract at the City Ground expires this summer but Davey will not ask the Irishman to return.

The outgoings, including Tadhg Purcell who has turned down a contract offer, take the total number of players no longer with the club since Davey’s appointment to 18.

Two weeks ago Davey told the out of contract Stuart Giddings, Richie Byrne, Rikki Baines, Dan Riley, Ross Chisholm, Patrick Deane and Mor Diop that they would not be offered a new deal.

Midfielder Chris Lumsdon remains under contract for another year, but hardly featured this season due to a back injury.

The clear-out means that of the 23 signings made by Steve Staunton, only Gareth Waite and Chris Moore remain.

Davey, who now has only 13 players, said: “It isn’t something I like doing.

“It’s not easy telling someone that they won’t be staying at this football club.

“There is a lot of work to be done. We need to recruit players and get them ready for a very tough season. That process has been underway for the last month, we’ve signed some players already and moved some players out.

“The process will be ongoing until July 1. We’ve been concentrating on next season ever since we came in. You’re in the job to play football but it will be nice to give the players a rest and it will be nice to give the players a rest, get the retained list ready and be able to look forward to next year.

“It’s a pity pre-season doesn’t last for only two weeks because then we could have got going straight away, but some of the players need a rest and operations.”

Ian Miller will undergo a hernia operation this week while Gary Smith requires surgery an ankle knock which hindered him in the closing weeks of the season.

Right-back Arnison has signed a one-year deal and the deal represents a huge turnaround in events for the defender.

Under Staunton the 32-yearold was frozen out of firstteam duties and ordered to train with the youth team.

But Arnison impressed Davey during the last ten games and ended Saturday’s final game of the season by wearing the captain’s armband after Smith, stand-in skipper for the injured Ian Miller, was substituted.

As well as Arnison, already under contract are Miller, Smith, Gareth Waite, Chris Moore, Josh Gray, along with youngsters Curtis Main, John McReady, Michael Smith and Corey Barnes. They will be joined by new signings Sam Russell, Jamie Chandler and Dominik Werling.