Cambridge United confirm departures of Lloyd Jones, Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs among others while Ryan Bennett, George Thomas and club legend Harrison Dunk have been offered new contracts

Cambridge United have confirmed that 10 first-team squad members – including Lloyd Jones, Sam Smith, Harvey Knibbs and Dimitar Mitov – will all be leaving the club following the conclusion of their contracts on June 30.

Following the highs of Sunday’s dramatic escape from Sky Bet League One relegation, head coach Mark Bonner has held meetings with the players throughout the week to determine their futures.

And the result of those discussions has seen a double-figure number heading for the Abbey Stadium exit door, with fresh terms having been offered to handful of other players that are also due to be out of contract – chief among them Ryan Bennett.

Defender Jones, who cleaned up with club’s end-of-season awards, will move on after making 69 appearances for the U’s, from which he scored four goals. Smith, meanwhile, has been United’s leading goalscorer in each of the previous two campaigns, with his run of seven goals in the final nine fixtures a key factor in this season’s survival. The Manchester-born frontman has recently been linked with fellow League One club Portsmouth.

Having arrived in Cambridgeshire in 2019 from Aston Villa, Knibbs will leave after turning out for Cambridge on 155 occasions (26 goals). Goalkeeper Mitov is also another long-serving player that will be moving on after making 164 appearances for the club – the most notable being the Bulgarian’s heroics away at Newcastle United in the FA Cup.

Popular frontman Joe Ironside will also not be retained. The 29-year-old joined United in 2020 from Macclesfield and went on to score 32 goals in 143 outings. Cambridge-born midfielder Liam O’Neil will leave with 165 appearances and seven goals to his name, while versatile defender George Williams is also on the hunt for a new club. Williams, who joined United from Bristol Rovers two summers ago, made 83 apperances for the club.

Former Tottenham Hotspur trainee Shilow Tracey will depart having racked up 90 appearances and five goals, with young midifelder Ben Worman moving on after featuring on 52 occasions, which included a memorable volley away at Morecambe in November 2021.

It was also announced earlier this week that captain Greg Taylor will be moving on after a successful decade at the Abbey.

Meanwhile, after impressing at the back since arriving on a short-term deal in January, Ryan Bennett has been offered a new terms. The centre-back with a wealth of Premier League experience formed good partnerships with the departing Jones and also Michael Morrison, who is contracted to the club beyond this summer.

Another January addition – George Thomas – also has an offer on the table. The playmaker was injured soon after joining the club but he returned for the run-in and scored a crucial goal in the 2-1 victory at Accrington Stanley.

Midfielder Paul Digby is another player that Bonner is eager to retain. Digby, who had to leave the weekend’s celebrations to be at the birth of his son Ralph, skippered the side this season in Taylor’s absence and has made 146 appearances for the club.

Club legend Harrison Dunk – the winner of the Love Cambridge Player of the Month award for April – has also been offered fresh terms. The popular left-back, who found a goalscoring touch during the final few weeks of the season, has made 456 appearances in Cambridge colours since arriving from Bromley back in 2011.

And there could also be a return for Fejiri Okenabirhie. The striker joined United on a free transfer 12 months ago but injuries limited him to just 20 appearances, many of which came from the bench. However, Bonner is keen for the forward to be a part of his squad going forward.

Loanees Steve Seddon and Conor McGrandles are set to return to parent clubs Oxford United and Charlton Athletic respectively.

Reflecting on all of the news, Bonner said: “This season’s list sees many players depart the club who have made significant impacts over many years and who have contributed greatly to our successes in recent seasons, including this last one. I could talk endlessly on each of them, crediting them for everything from ability, performance, personality and character, but in short, we would not have achieved all that we have without them.

“As is often the case, football works in cycles and this is a sliding doors moment from one cycle to another. It has been clear to us for a large part of the season that it was inevitable we would see some players leaving despite many conversations around our desire for them to stay.

“Some will have earned opportunities to further their careers beyond us and we wish them every success in securing those moves. In other cases, it is my decision to turn over the squad and create a refresh and restart the process of building a new team to face the challenges of League One football next season.

“I believe we will look back and remember these players for all of the right reasons. They do not deserve to be remembered for anything other than the countless highlights they have given us and for them, I am delighted the weekend ended in the way that it did.

“Each of their stories within the club is unique, but all these players have developed with us and helped create the culture within the team that exists. I hope they will look back in the future and remember fondly their time at the club, having had some of their career highlights with us. I am grateful to them for their support, loyalty and work ethic.

“From local boys, academy graduates, long-term servants, lockdown legends, cup giant killers and great escape artists, I am proud to have led these players and proud of them for what they have given us. They leave us better than when they found us, and for that we will be forever grateful.

“On top of their on-pitch contributions, they have above all been top men who have given their all for us. We cannot have asked for more than that.

“We are grateful too to Charlton Athletic and Oxford United for their support with Conor and Steve, and thank them for their excellent contributions also.

“Work is under way regarding contract offers and the recruitment of next seasons squad and we will be working to add a number of new signings to improve the starting team and depth of the squad.”

- Leaving the club on June 30: Greg Taylor, Liam O’Neil, Dimitar Mitov, Harvey Knibbs, Joe Ironside, Sam Smith, Shilow Tracey, George Williams, Lloyd Jones, Ben Worman

- Players offered a new contract at conclusion of current deals on June 30: Ryan Bennett, Harrison Dunk, Paul Digby, George Thomas, Fejiri Okenabirhie

- Player under contract beyond June 30: Will Mannion, James Holden, Liam Bennett, Jubril Okedina, Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Michael Morrison, Mamadou Jobe, Brandon Haunstrup, Adam May, Lewis Simper, Jack Lankester James Brophy, Saikou Janneh

- Under-21s under contract: Harvey Beckett, Saleem Akanbi, Glenn McConnell, Kai Yearn, Louis Chadwick

- Loans to return to parent clubs: Steve Seddon, Conor McGrandles