Five out of contract Robins have been released from the club and one has been made available for transfer following meetings with Mark Yates earlier today.

JJ Melligan, Frankie Artus, Martin Riley, Daniel Lloyd-Weston and Jake Lee have all been released by the Football Club and Michael Pook, who still has a year to run on his contract, has been made available on a free transfer.

"These are the decisions that my staff and I have made but it's not something I take lightly," explained Mark.

"Sometimes things just don't work out but I would like to thank them all for what they have done for this club over the last twelve months. They have been a really good group to work with but this is all part of football. I don't really want to go into detail but we need to keep moving forward and improving.

"Michael Pook has not been anywhere near what I expected from him this season. He is not being singled out for criticism but he hasn't performed to the standard that I expected from him as captain. If I can get what I want in the summer then Michael will only be on the edge of the team and he's on too much money and too good a player not to be featuring.

"Sometimes you have to make these decisions but there is every chance that Michael could still be here next season because he knows where I am coming from and, if it serves as a little rocket to get him going next season, then we'll have a better player on our hands than this year."

Dave Bird and Wesley Thomas, who are also out of contract, have received written offers but Keith Lowe and Brian Smikle will definitely be here next season after their option for a second year with the club kicked in.

Youth team top scorer Ethan Moore has scored a total of 25 goals (including reserve fixtures) this season and has received a verbal offer from the Football Club. Marlon Pack, who has enjoyed a season long loan with the Robins, is currently in negotiations with the Football Club about joining on a permanent basis.

"Ethan is a young boy and has scored a lot of goals for the youth team. He has time on his side and we'll look to improve him in every way we can.

"Marlon Pack is somebody we'd like to build a team around and I have told him that. He has a bit of everything in his game and we'll do everything within reason to bring him here to the club."

The remaining players are all under contract ready for next season and leaves the club in a significantly improved position that it was this time last year. Mark believes it's important to now build upon the spine of the team and revealed that plans to rebuild in the summer are already underway.

"We need to make sure we are stronger next season than we have been," said Mark.

"There needs to be more pressure put on Scott Brown in goal too because he has had a free ride for two seasons and I want someone to come in and challenge him. Scott needs to have that kind of pressure placed on him as the number one keeper throughout the whole season but Daniel (Lloyd-Weston) wasn't able to provide that kind of competition.

"We need better players throughout and that is what we hope to do. We have a nucleus of a good team here now and we'll look to improve that further throughout the summer."

Don't forget that both Mark Yates and Paul Baker will be present at the annual End of Season Fans Forum this evening. For more information, please click here.

Full Retained/Released List

Released

- Daniel Lloyd-Weston
- Martin Riley
- JJ Melligan
- Frankie Artus
- Jake Lee

Transfer Listed

- Michael Pook

Contract Offered

- Dave Bird
- Wesley Thomas
- Ethan Moore

Under Contract for 2011-12

- Scott Brown
- Keith Lowe
- Steve Elliott
- Kyle Haynes
- Andy Gallinagh
- Danny Andrew
- Josh Low
- Brian Smikle
- Michael Pook
- Theo Lewis
- Jeff Goulding