Pool release six including skipper

Eyebrows were raised when the 21-year-old was handed the armband by boss Neil McDonald at the start of the season, just six appearances into his senior career.

After playing in almost every game earlier in the season, Ferguson has struggled to name down a place in recent months as his departure doesn’t really come as a surprise.

Fellow Sunderland academy graduate Connor Oliver, who ended the season on loan at Morecambe, is also released from his contract, despite he and Ferguson both having options for a further year in their contract.

Defenders Charles Dunne and Emmerson Boyce will also leave the club, along with Jarret Rivers and Martin Paterson, the later failed to score a single goal for the Seasiders.

Only Tom Aldred saw his one-year option taken, after a season which saw him as good as anyone in tangerine despite a shockingly disappointing season for the club.

David Norris, 35, is the only player to be offered a new deal, it’s believed he’s been offered a one-year deal which includes incentives the more games he plays.

All of the club’s second year scholars have been released, apart from Macauley Wilson and keeper Myles Boney.

Wilson has put pen to paper on his first senior contract after impressing at right-back, while Boney is yet to sign an offer made last year.

It means Pool currently have 16 professionals on their books, a number which could rise to 18 should Norris and Boney commit to the club.

What isn’t clear is the future of manager McDonald, who is yet to comment on whether or not he’ll stay after hinting he was ready to quit following relegation to League Two on Sunday.

Already under contract for the 2016/17 season:

Will Aimson

Henry Cameron

Mark Cullen

Colin Doyle

John Herron

Luke Higham

Kyle Letheren

Jim McAlister

Bright Osayi-Samuel

Danny Philliskirk

Brad Potts

Jack Redshaw

Clark Robertson

Mark Yeates

An option has been activated on the contract of:

Tom Aldred

A new contract has been offered to:

David Norris

Offered and agreed professional terms:

Macauley Wilson

Offered professional terms:

Myles Boney

The club will not be activating options or offering contracts to:

Emmerson Boyce

Charles Dunne

David Ferguson

Connor Oliver

Martin Paterson

Jarrett Rivers

Loan players returning to parent clubs:

Jacob Blyth

Uche Ikpeazu

Lloyd Jones

Liam Smith

Hayden White