DURHAM yesterday severed the last link with their original first-class playing staff when they released Simon Brown.

The 33-year-old left-arm swing bowler was the last survivor after Jimmy Daley asked to go last month, when he was given no assurances about his future.

Despite a series of injuries in the last two years, Brown has worked hard at his fitness and felt he could play on for three or four years.

Although a coaching role with Durham might interest him, he could attract interest from another county such as Leicestershire, who have done well out of other counties' cast-offs such as Devon Malcolm.

All-rounder Marc Symington has also been released. He had played only three first-class matches in four years until this season, when he was given the opportunity to establish himself.

In nine championship matches this year he scored 216 runs at an average of 16.61 and took 13 wickets at 40.38.

Brown played only in the first championship match this season, when his two for 65 against Middlesex took his tally of first-class wickets to 550 at 28.72.

He took 518 of those wickets for Durham, which is almost twice as many as anyone else, and he also holds the record number of first-class appearances for Durham with 141, plus the record for most first-class wickets in a season (77) in 1996, when he also made his one Test appearance against Pakistan at Lord's.

Born in Cleadon, Brown learnt his cricket at Boldon and played for Northamptonshire from 1987-1990 before joining Durham for their final season of Minor Counties cricket in 1991.

He always had a reputation for staying fit until he missed the 1998 season after a knee operation, but he came back strongly with over 50 championship wickets in each of the next two seasons.

The burden of carrying the attack in Durham's early season, however, appears to have caught up with him and after recovering from a side strain this season he then developed a calf injury.

Coach Martyn Moxon said: "Simon has been a great servant to Durham County Cricket Club, but unfortunately he has had a series of injuries over the last two seasons and as a result we have had to take the difficult decision not to renew his contract.

"Similarly, it was a difficult decision regarding Marc as he has played a significant amount of cricket for the first XI this season and has always given 100 per cent effort and commitment. I would like to wish them both every success in the future."

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