Pool boss Simon Grayson today announced his retained list ahead of the 2008/9 season. With so many players out of contract or with options Grayson has been faced with arguably some of the toughest decisions of his management career to date and following careful consideration eleven players have been released on free transfers most notable are club captain Michael Jackson, midfielder Michael Flynn and Blackpool born John Hills.

Six players have had their options for a further year activated by the club, they are Ben Burgess, Danny Coid, Kaspars Gorkss and youngsters Matt Kay, Michael D'Agostino and Stephen Crainey who had activated his appearance based option earlier in the season.

The club have also offered new contracts to Andy Morrell, Claus Jorgensen and Simon Wiles.

The Full Retained List Is As Follows:

Already Under Contract: Rachubka, Southern, Evatt, McPhee, Green, Hoolahan, Taylor-Fletcher, Fox, Barker,

Options activated for further year: Burgess, Coid, Crainey, Gorkss, Kay, D'Agostino

New contract offer: Andy Morrell, Simon Wiles and Claus Jorgensen (The club are awaiting their decision.)

Released: Michael Jackson, Keigan Parker, John Hills, Paul Tierney, Phil Doughty, Andy Welsh, Marcus Bean, Lewis Edge, Michael Flynn, Matt Lawlor, Phil Marsh

Everyone connected to Blackpool FC would like to thank those players being released for all their effort and hard work during the time at the club and we all wish them well in the future.

As well as the senior squad learning their fate on Wednesday, the Seasiders boss also made the decisions on several of the club's second year scholars. Winger Dominic Merrella and utility man Ross Lloyd have been offered six month professional contracts, but Grayson decided to release Stefan Laird, Alex Smith, Dale Warburton, Kyle Clancy and Danny Penswick.

Once again the club would like to thank all these players for the effort and hard work over the last two years and we wish them well in the future.