FOREST Green boss David Hockaday has released Jake Thomson and Michael Uwezu and has made goalkeeper James Bittner available on a free transfer.

Hockaday already has 18 players tied down on deals next season, but Thomson, Bittner and Uwezu are joined in the departure lounge by Charlie Griffin, Michael Pook, Tommy Wright, Liam Henderson, Curtis McDonald, Jeffrey Imudia, Callum Henry and midfielder Chris Allen.

Hockaday said: “I would like to thank all the players, who are leaving. We are looking to have 18 or 19 senior players and four younger players.

"The club can't keep asking the chairman (Dale Vince) to put his hand in his pocket – we have to be sustainable in every which way."