MANAGER Andy Ritchie began reshaping his Town squad today by announcing a retained list of only two out-of contract players.
Teenage wideman Danny Racchi has been offered a year's contract and 20-year-old right-back Aaron Hardy six-month terms.
But out go defenders Martin McIntosh, John McCombe and Adam Wilson, midfielders Mark Hudson, Adnan Ahmed and James Hand and striker John McAliskey.
Ritchie, who is pursuing a string of transfer targets as he aims to build a side capable of challenging for promotion from League I, said his budget was the main factor in the decision to let so many players go.
Town confirmed earlier this week that five of their six out-of-contract Academy players have been offered first-year deals.
Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood, midfielders James Berrett and Mitchell Bailey and frontmen Lucas Akins and Luke Malcher will all come into the first-team financial pool.
That accent on developing youthful potential has further limited Ritchie's ability to keep more senior players.
"It's been a hard decision, and it's always hard to tell players they're not going to be kept on, but it's part of a manager's job," said Ritchie.
"I've made no secret of the fact that I want to bring some new blood in - we need both pace and width especially - and I always knew I would have to wheel and deal in the market place to do that.
"I've been impressed with the attitude and application of all the players in the short time I've been here, and the likes of Martin McIntosh and Mark Hudson have given it a real go over the four matches I've been in charge.
"Unfortunately we're no different to most clubs. Finance dictates the size of the squad and the fact that I've taken the decision to release these players is a sign of that rather than their ability."
On the two he's keeping, Ritchie said: "Danny has made a couple of appearances since I've been here, and he's impressed me with his pace and power down the wing and his ability to switch to right full-back when required.
"He's certainly worth keeping hold of for a further year and I'm hoping he'll develop into a more-than-useful player.
"Aaron Hardy has had an ankle injury ever since I've been here, and after taking advice from the rest of the coaching staff, which I have done over all the players, I thought it unfair to release him at this stage. This way he has six months to show me what he can do, and then we'll sit down and see where we go."
Both McIntosh, 36, and Hudson, 10 years younger, had indicated their desire to remain at Town after being frozen out under Ritchie's predecessor Peter Jackson.
The pair signed from Rotherham and Chesterfield respectively on the same day in June 2005.
Scottish centre-back McIntosh, who had a spell on loan at League II Grimsby early this season, made his 52nd Town appearance in Saturday's 3-1 final-day home win over Leyton Orient.
Former Middlesbrough man Hudson made his 69th.
McCombe, whose brother Jamie is celebrating promotion from League I with Bristol City, Ahmed and McAliskey are all 22-year-old Academy products who have been unable to tie down regular first-team places.
Centre-back McCombe has made 20 appearances, Ahmed, who had a spell on trial at League II Lincoln earlier this year, 45 and McAliskey 48 (with eight goals).
Ahmed, once on the books of Manchester United, has been plagued by injuries over the last two seasons.
Irishman Hand, 20, who has made two first-team outings, and centre-back Wilson, the 18-year-old son of former Town midfielder Robert, were both at the end of first-year pro contracts, meaning Racchi is the only one of his intake to remain.
Loan man Frank Sinclair has been released by Burnley.
