Colchester United have announced their released and retained list

Experienced goalkeeper Dean Gerken will also be leaving the U's, following the club revealing their list of players retained this afternoon.

Colchester have also revealed that they are in talks with Emyr Huws about a new deal, after his short-term contract came to an end.

The 28-year-old former Ipswich Town midfielder made 12 appearances for the U's after joining them on a deal, in January.

And as expected, the U's have exercised an option on goalkeeper Shamal George's (pictured above) deal.

Welch-Hayes departs after spending more than two years at Colchester.

The defender made more than 50 appearances for the club, scoring once.

Gerken is also leaving Colchester.

The 36-year-old made 206 appearances in total for the U's in his two spells for the club, having progressed through their youth ranks and made his senior debut for them back in 2004.

👏 We would like to wish Dean Gerken and Miles Welch-Hayes all the best for the future after their departures from #ColU. pic.twitter.com/jQcSz9z9yV

— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) May 12, 2022

Youngsters Sam Cornish (pictured below), Andre Hasanally, Tom Stagg, Diogo Freitas Gouveia, Bryan Ifeanyi and Emmanuel Martins will depart along with former Manchester City defender Camron Gbadebo, who was signed on a short-term deal in January.

Colchester's senior players John Akinde, Noah Chilvers, Ryan Clampin, Cameron Coxe, Luke Chambers, Tom Dallison, Tom Eastman, Luke Hannant, Alan Judge, Frank Nouble, Freddie Sears, Cole Skuse, Tommy Smith, Junior Tchamadeu and Brendan Wiredu are all under contract and are retained.

And under-23 players Kaan Bennett, Ted Collins, Jake Hutchinson, Bradley Ihionvien, Gene Kennedy, Ryan Lowe, Marley Marshall Miranda, Harvey Sayer and Frankie Terry are also staying put.

Fellow under-23 players Harry Beadle, Chay Cooper (pictured above), Jake Hutchinson, Al-Amin Kazeem, Billy Cracknell, Donell Thomas and Lordon Akolbire have been offered new contracts.

Corie Andrews, Armando Dobra, Owura Edwards, Sam Hornby, Myles Kenlock and Tyreik Wright have all returned to their respective parent clubs, following the completion of the loan deals.