The 2020-21 season proved to be the end of an era for both Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City as their respective captains, Gary Sawyer and Jake Taylor, both left their respective clubs.
Pilgrims' skipper Sawyer, 35, who has played 298 games over two spells with Argyle, has retired with an ankle injury. Once his current contract expires he will take up an ambassadorial role with the club.
After spending the 2004-05 season on loan at Exeter City, Sawyer broke into the Pilgrims' side in 2006 under Ian Holloway and made the left-back spot his own until his departure at the end of the 2009-10 season.
Spells at Bristol Rovers and Leyton Orient followed before he returned to Home Park in 2015 as Derek Adams' first signing as manager and was appointed as vice-captain in the 2016-17 season and was later appointed captain in the 2017-18 campaign. His second stint with the Pilgrims also saw him win promotion from League Two twice - in 2016-17 under Adams and again in 2019-20 under current Argyle boss Ryan Lowe.
Sawyer and goalkeeper Luke McCormick, who has been offered an alternative role with the club, are the last remaining links with the Pilgrims' last spell in the Championship between 2004 and 2010.
Meanwhile, Exeter City skipper Jake Taylor was offered a deal to remain at St James Park by Grecians boss Matt Taylor, but he has instead announced his intention to leave the club to move closer to his family in Reading.
Taylor initially joined the Grecians on loan in the 2011-12 season and returned to the club permanently basis in 2016 under Paul Tisdale. Two years later he was appointed as club captain by Matt Taylor, following his appointment to succeed Tisdale. Over the course of his permanent stint with the Grecians, Taylor was involved in three play-offs campaigns (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2019-20) - all of which ended in play-off final defeats at Wembley.
Retained lists in full:
Plymouth Argyle:
Released: Will Aimson, Byron Moore, Jarvis Cleal, Rubin Wilson, Scott Wootton, Klaidi Lolos, Frank Nouble, Lewis Macleod, Ben Reeves, Jack Ruddy
New contracts offered to: Joe Edwards, Conor Grant, Ollie Tomlinson, Danny Mayor, Ryan Law
Offered alternative role with club: Luke McCormick
Retired from professional football: Gary Sawyer
Exeter City:
Released: Jonny Maxted, Lewis Ward, Tom Parkes, Alex Fisher, Nicky Ajose
New contracts offered to: Lewis Page, Pierce Sweeney, Jake Taylor*, Randell Williams*
*Offer of new contract has been turned down.
