The new Wellington Phoenix football coach Ernie Merrick has released five players from the A-League club.
Foundation player Tony Lochhead, Alex Smith, Dani Sanchez, Jimmy Downey and Lucas Pantelis are the players concerned, with Downey and Pantelis both having been hampered by injury during their two-season stints.
Lochhead is the club's most capped player with 130 games to his credit, and Phoenix general manager David Dome paid tribute to the contribution the All Whites fullback has made to the club.
Merrick is keen to see more of Ian Hogg, who had a short-term contract with the Phoenix at the end of last season, before a decision on his future with the club is made.
