 At the end of the 1982–83 season almost half of the squad were out of contract and, given the gloomy atmosphere at the club, most did not want to sign new contracts.Mark Hateley, Danny Thomas and Gary Gillespie were among the high-profile names to leave.The new manager was Bobby Gould, who summed up the bleak situation at the club by saying "I have been thrown into the lions' den".