Pompey boss Andy Awford admitted showing a host of players the door was tough - but said all the departures were agreed with the club's future in mind.

Jake Jervis, Thery Racon, Yassin Moutaouakil, Marcos Painter, Phil Smith and Ashley Harris are departing, while Pompey are retaining Ryan Bird and Adam Webster - with talks ongoing on five who are out of contract, including Jed Wallace and Nicky Shorey.

Danny Hollands and Trevor Carson's loan deals are up but Awford is hoping to keep both.

Awford told The News: ‘We have to thank the players that we’ve released for their service to the club. I just feel that we won’t be requiring them next season and moving forward.

‘We’ve had a chat and decided it’s the right thing for the club that they are moved on. We have to look to build a new squad. It’s not nice. It’s a horrible part of the job that you have to do. But it’s for the good of the football club.

‘There is a budget to work to. We highlight the players we definitely want to keep, highlight targets and those who we don’t think will play next season. We all have an input in that.

'It’s me, the footballing staff, chief executive and finance director, who controls the budget. We are in the mix with it and it’s a club decision. We’ve had a chat as a club and staff and agreed on what we think.’

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