NEALE Cooper's squad shaping for next season has moved on with the release of four players.

And Cooper is now ready to secure the futures of his young prodigies, who played major roles in securing a play-off place.

Mark Robinson, Anthony Williams, Scott Walker and Steven Carson have been freed, and Darrell Clarke and Paul Robinson, who are out of contract this summer, are in line for new deals.

Cooper has already signed Jack Ross from Clyde and has also offered deals to striker Joel Porter and goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.

Antony Sweeney and Darren Craddock are next on Cooper's hit list and the Pool boss has started talks with the young professionals.

The pair impressed when given an opportunity in the closing stages of the season and Sweeney netted Pool's goal in last week's play-off defeat at Bristol City.

He admitted: "I hope I've done enough to earn a new contract. Something has been said so hopefully we can sit down sometime soon and see what comes.

"Last week was devastating and it's hard to accept the season is over, but now we have to move on and look at next season.

"I scored last week and to score the goal in front of our own fans was brilliant for me, but it didn't mean that much because we aren't going to Cardiff.

"I can't grumble with how things have gone from a personal point of view, but missing out hurts.

"The manner in which we went out will stay with us, but if someone said last summer we would be at Ashton Gate in the play-off semi-final, I don't think anyone would believe them.

"We have come on so far as a club and team. We can pick things up for next season and do the same again.''

Robinson and Williams were regulars in last season's promotion side, but have spent this season on the sidelines. Robinson made five appearances, the last at Blackpool in October, while Williams started only one game, at Peterborough on the opening day of the season.

Williams is likely to move to Stockport, where he enjoyed a successful three-month loan spell and Robinson has already been on trial at Darlington.

Walker and Carson were both signed on short-term deals, but never made an impression.

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