GRAHAM Alexander would love City’s rejected players to prove him wrong.

Alexander admits informing members of the squad they won’t be staying at the club is the toughest part of management.

But he insists being released is not the end – and is hoping they can all bounce back elsewhere.

Alexander cited his Valley Parade assistant Chris Lucketti as an example of a player carving out a long career having been initially shown the door.

“He got released at 18 (by Rochdale) and went on to play 700 plus games and played in the Premier League,” said the City boss.

“If that’s not a way to handle rejection and come back stronger, then nothing is.

“There are examples of hundreds of people, including when it happened to me later in my career, who have carried on playing.

“There are some good players in that group and I’ve no doubt we will see them again.”

City published their retained list yesterday after Alexander had spoken to each player to explain the decisions.

“It’s probably the worst day of the year for me as a manager and an ex-footballer.

“This was maybe my 11th or 12th year doing it and it doesn’t get any easier.

“As soon as the final game is played, it’s all there hanging over your heads and we have to speak to the players.

“Unfortunately, it’s a necessary evil in football. It’s part of the game, part of the sport but it doesn’t make you feel any better.

“There are some younger players, some more experienced ones, but they are all good lads and you want them to go on and do good things after.”

Harry Chapman, Liam Ridehalgh and Matt Derbyshire were the most experienced names to be released.

At the other end of the scale, youngsters such as Noah Wadsworth and several youth-team players will now have to look for new clubs.

Alexander appreciates that not every player to go will have sensed it coming.

He added: “Younger players might not see it as much because they’re not really exposed to the first team.

“They’re not being left out or playing every week, so sometimes I don’t think they know where they stand.

“More experienced players, if they are around the first-team squad, can maybe pick up a scent of what might happen. But they might still be thinking, ‘it’s still not over’.

“But they understand. I had individual meetings with each and everyone of them and they were all really good.

“They understood my reasons and so forth – which sometimes makes it worse for me that they are so good about it.

“But it is just part of the game. There are players at different levels of their careers and being let go happens from time to time in your career.

“But we genuinely wish them all the best because they are all good lads.”