Hibernian boss John Hughes began his summer rebuilding programme on Friday after Abdessalam Benjelloun, Yves Ma-Kalambay, Darren McCormack and Patrick Cregg were all released and Alan Gow returned to Plymouth.
Benjelloun, Ma-Kalambay, McCormack and Cregg's departures came as no surprise as they were out of contract and were far from first-team regulars under Hughes.
Morocco international Benjelloun's four-year Easter Road career was initially revived by Hughes' arrival last summer after his days looked numbered under former manager Mixu Paatelainen.
But he became increasingly peripheral and the silence from the club over a new contract was telling.
Goalkeeper Ma-Kalambay began the season as Hibs number one but the error-prone Belgian eventually found himself fourth in the pecking order when Hughes signed Graham Stack, Graeme Smith and Mark Brown.
McCormack saw his place at right-back taken by former under-19s star David Wotherspoon and he made only a handful of appearances this term.
Midfielder Cregg followed Hughes from Falkirk last summer but was unable to establish himself on a bigger stage.
Forward Gow, who also played under Hughes with the Bairns, joined Hibs on loan in February but it appears the club have decided against trying to make the move permanent.
Hughes told www.hibernianfc.co.uk: "I would like to thank all of them for their contributions to Hibernian and wish them all the best in their future careers."
Source: PA
