ROSS COUNTY have released 14 players following the termination of the Scottish football season.

The Staggies announced first team stars Lewis Spence, Sean Kelly, Declan McManus and Richard Foster will all depart the club when their contracts expire.

Meanwhile youth team players Tommy Dixon-Hodge, Jack Murray, James Wallace, Declan Hughes, Joel MacBeath, Gregor MacDonald, Jack Grant, Thomas Brady, Tom Kelly and Ruari Fraser have also been notified that their contracts will not be renewed.

Tom Grivosti and Harry Paton have agreed new contracts with the club, while Marcus Fraser and Callum Morris have been offered new deals and the club are expected to make further updates on their positions in the coming days.  

On the news co-Managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson said: “Firstly, we thank Lewis, Sean, Declan and Richard for their service to the club.

“We wish them further success in their football careers, and they will always be warmly welcomed back to the club for their contributions in their time here.

“It is with regret that we have to let a number of our younger players go. A lot of these players have spent a significant amount of time with the club through their lives and we thank them for their commitment and wish them every success as they go on in their careers.

“We are delighted with Tom & Harry committing their futures to the club. We view both players as having big futures in the game and hope they will continue to prosper here in Dingwall.”

The player contract announcement comes after Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor called for Scottish football to come together to ensure the game survives the economic "tsunami" that lies ahead.

MacGregor expects a 35 per cent drop in his club's budget and is even more worried for the lower leagues.

He said: "I am very worried for lower-league football, part-time clubs and clubs particularly that rely on gate receipts.

"I was horrified when I heard the Championship might consider just playing half a season.

"These things do worry me because we have a responsibility as 42 clubs to stick together and make sure everyone gets through this traumatic period.

"I think the worst is yet to come. I think we will have a tsunami of unemployment and mental issues and big things to deal with. And lack of disposable income. Whether people can afford to see football is my concern.

"We need to get together as 42 clubs and find a way that football survives."