In his first act as permanent Torquay United manager Alan Knill has released seven players and offered six new deals as he aims to build a squad for the 2013-14 season.
Amongst the seven players making their departures from Plainmoor are long serving winger Danny Stevens, who has been with the Gulls since 2007 and was part of the side that won promotion back to the Football League, right-backs Joe Oastler and Daniel Leadbitter, Lloyd Macklin, Saul Halpin, Karl Baker and experienced midfielder Craig Easton.
Halpin and Macklin first arrived at Plainmoor during their first season back in the league when Halpin became the first player from the Gulls' new youth system to sign a professional contract and Macklin joined from Swindon Town following a loan spell.
Oastler had originally joined Torquay on loan under Paul Buckle during the 2010-11 on loan from QPR before making the move to Plainmoor permanently following the appointment of Martin Ling.
Fellow full-back Leadbitter also joined the Gulls in the immediate aftermath of Ling's arrival after he was released by Newcastle United.
Scotsman Easton, 33, was re-united with Ling at the start of the season, following a successful trial period towards the end of the 2011-12 campaign, after previously playing a key role in helping Ling win promotion with Leyton Orient in the 2005-06 season.
However, injuries prevented him from holding down a regular first team place.
Baker was plucked from local football after having played for Stoke Gabriel in the South West Peninsula League and spent the final weeks of the season on loan at Bideford in the Southern League.
He had been connected with the Gulls until the age of 14 when former Chairman Mike Bateson decided to scrap the club's youth system, at which point he signed for AFC Bournemouth before returning to playing local non-league football.
Knill has offered new deals to top scorer Rene Howe, goalkeeper Martin Rice, central defenders Brian Saah and Aaron Downes who won the club's Players' Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards respectively, left back Tom Cruise and forwards Ryan Jarvis and Ashley Yeoman.
A permanent deal could also be in the pipeline for Elliot Benyon following his return on loan towards the end of last season after he was released by Southend United.
