Ross County have trimmed their squad following the end of the Premiership season, with 14 players departing the Dingwall club.
The Staggies have released four senior players, with Richard Foster, Sean Kelly, Lewis Spence and Declan McManus moving on.
Defender Foster had returned for a second stint at Victoria Park last summer following a spell with St Johnstone, while full back Kelly has been with the Staggies since his move from AFC Wimbledon in 2017.
Midfielder Spence joined County from Dundee midway through the Staggies’ Championship title winning campaign last year, while forward McManus had spent the season on loan with League 1 side Falkirk, ending the campaign as the Bairns’ leading scorer on 24 goals.
The Staggies have also released 10 reserve players, with Tommy Dixon-Hodge, Jack Murray, James Wallace, Declan Hughes, Joel MacBeath, Gregor MacDonald, Jack Grant, Thomas Brady, Tom Kelly and Ruari Fraser being freed.
County chairman Roy MacGregor last week revealed the Staggies would not take up the option of extending the deals of out of contract players in order to take advantage of the UK government’s furlough scheme, branding the idea “dishonest.”
In a club statement, the Staggies said: “We thank Lewis, Sean, Declan and Richard for their service to the club. We wish them further success in their football careers, and they will always be warmly welcomed back to the club for their contributions in their time here.
“It is with regret that we have to let a number of our younger players go. A lot of these players have spent a significant amount of time with the club through their lives and we thank them for their commitment and wish them every success as they go on in their careers.”
County have tied youngsters Tom Grivosti and Harry Paton to new contracts, and are awaiting responses from skipper Marcus Fraser and fellow defender Callum Morris who have been offered new deals.
English defender Grivosti, who is formerly of Bolton Wanderers, and Canadian midfielder Paton, will remain with the Highlanders after making their breakthrough into the Staggies’ first team.
County’s club statement added: “We are delighted with Tom and Harry committing their futures to the club. We view both players as having big futures in the game and hope they will continue to prosper here in Dingwall.”
