Dover Athletic have decided to release four of their young players.

The club have let Elliott Charles (21), winger Sam Long (20), and midfield duo Joe Tabiri (21) and Lewwis Spence (23) leave Crabble.

Hayes admitted the decision not to offer Spence a contract was “probably the toughest one of the four."

The midfielder made a positive impression with Whites fans after moving to Crabble on loan from Rushden & Diamonds in January and Hayes said: “I thought Lewiss did very well for us but we ended up over-loaded with midfield players and that’s also partly why we decided to let Joe go as well. He became frustrated at not playing more and Joe probably needs to be playing regularly to produce his best.

“As for Elliott, it was a shame he got injured in the Bishops Stortford game (in October) because I think the fans were just beginning to warm to him, but that injury really knocked him back. Sam (Long) too had injury problems which prevented him from really showing what he could do.”

Eight players of this season’s squad, Ross Flitney, Matt Fish, Rob Gillman, Olly Schulz, Harry Baker, Barry Cogan, Jon Wallis and Sam Cutler have all been offered new deals while Luke I’Anson, Adam Birchall and Tom Wynter are already under contract.