Southend release five players

Southend United have responded to their failure to win promotion by releasing five players. The Shrimpers lost their League One play-off final to Doncaster Rovers last week and have decided not to new the contracts of a quintet of players. Long-serving midfielder Kevin Maher, who has been at Roots Hall for the last ten years, heads the list of departures. The 31-year-old made almost 450 appearances for the Essex club after signing from Spurs in 1998. Meanwhile, Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson, Tommy Black and Steve Collis have also been shown the exit door.