HEREFORD United have released five players as manager Graham Turner begins his preparations for next season.

The Bulls, who finished 16th in League Two, have decided not to offer contracts to Stuart Fleetwood, Glyn Thompson, Martyn Giles, Danny Thomas and Andy Ferrell.

However, nine players have been offered terms at Edgar Street next season. They are Simon Travis, Tamika Mkandawire, Rob Purdie, Alan Connell, Sam Gwynne, Andy Williams, Marcus Palmer, Jor-dan Fitzpatrick and Dean Beckwith.

Striker Fleetwood made more than 60 appearances in a Hereford shirt after arriving in January last year, including a hat-trick against Cov-entry City in the Carling Cup in August.

But, despite starting 23 times for the Bulls this season, Fleetwood's campaign was blighted by a viral infection.

He went to Accrington Stanley on loan in a bid to gain match fitness but struggled to recapture his early season form.

Goalkeeper Thompson joined Hereford as cover for first choice Wayne Brown last summer following the departure of Craig Mawson.

However, Thompson, once a £50,000 signing for Fulham, was sidelined with a groin injury at the start of the season and made just one first-team start - the 2-1 Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat against Shrewsbury.

Midfielder Giles had his time at Hereford ruined by injury after signing last summer.

The former Cardiff player completed 90 minutes just 12 times before having his season ended in October with a back injury sustained while making his comeback in the res-erves following concussion.

Thomas, also a midfielder, only arrived during the January transfer window but did not make his debut for almost a month, scoring a 90th-minute goal to help Hereford to a 2-0 victory over Barnet.

Thomas went on to make 15 more starts for the Bulls and scored during the 3-2 defeat against Hartlepool in March.

Ferrell came to the club in the summer of 2005 and went on to make 73 appearances, 26 in the League Two campaign.