Source: Daily_Mail
Windass leads the Hull exodus as Brown lets his Tigers go
Hull hero Dean Windass is among a host of players to be released as manager Phil Brown starts to shape his squad for next season.
Brown can no longer find room for the 40-year-old striker as he prepares for a second season in the Barclays Premier League.
Windass earned a place in Hull folklore by firing his hometown club into the top flight for the first time with the winner in the 2008 Championship play-off final.
But he was unable to command a regular first-team place following the promotion and made his displeasure known with a series of outspoken remarks.
Happy days: Windass celebrates firing Hull into the top flight in 2008. He then ended last season in the reserves after a loan move to Oldham turned sour.
Brown told the Hull Daily Mail: 'I've got no animosity or bad blood towards Dean Windass but I wish it could have ended in a more poignant way.
'My advice to him was always to sit on his last year, and accept the plaudits and credit that he deserved. I dare say fate will dictate that we cross paths again in our careers but we wish him all the best.'
Windass' departure does not come as a surprise and he has been handed a player-coaching role under new manager Colin Todd at Darlington.
He will be followed out of the Hull exit door by midfielder Ryan France, one of four players to have played in all four professional divisions with the Tigers.
France turned down a loan move to Blackpool earlier in the season in order to compete for a place.
Starting again: Brown is planning for next season
Former Sunderland and Leeds striker Michael Bridges is also leaving along with John Welsh, who ended the season on loan at Bury.
Reserve players James Bennett, Joe Lamplough, Matthew Plummer and Tom Woodhead have also been released but Will Atkinson, Steve Gardner and Ryan Kendall are retained.
Youth team products Nathan Hanley and John Leonard have been awarded one-year professional contracts and young player of the year Tom Cairney has signed a two-year contract.
Meanwhile, Tigers assistant Brian Horton insists Phil Brown will maintain a high profile next season.
Brown attracted some criticism in the last campaign with his upfront approach but Horton told the Manchester Evening News: 'I think he has been great for the Premiership.
'He is a character who might get under the skin of some people with his comments but he is only speaking his mind. There is nothing wrong with that.
'Earlier in the season Phil asked me if he should adopt a low profile. I told him to forget it.
'By being what he is, Phil has helped put Hull on the map. I told him bad publicity is infinitely preferable to no publicity.'
