Cheltenham Town's Pook set to exit as five are released
Last updated on .From the section Football
Cheltenham Town have released five players and placed club captain Michael Pook on the transfer list.
Midfielder Pook, 25, joined the Robins in 2009 following his release from Swindon Town and has made 69 appearances, scoring six goals.
JJ Melligan, Frankie Artus, Martin Riley, Daniel Lloyd-Weston and Jake Lee have all been let go.
Top scorer Wes Thomas, midfielder Dave Bird and youth team forward Ethan Moore have been offered new contracts.
Defender Keith Lowe and midfielder Brian Smikle will remain at the club next season after their option for a second term with the club kicked in.
Marlon Pack, who has been on a season-long loan from Portsmouth, is in talks about a permanent move.
"These are decisions that my staff and I have made, but it's not something I take lightly," boss Mark Yates told the club website.
Talking about his decision to make Pook available for transfer despite him having a year left on his contract, Yates said: "Michael 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 a 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."
But Yates said there could be a chance for Pook to stay if his form improved.
"There is every chance that Michael could still be here next season," he added.
"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."
