Scunthorpe shed six

SCUNTHORPE UNITED boss Brian Laws has commenced his end-of-season clear out by releasing six players.

The biggest casualty to be given the chop is midfielder Lee Hodges while Stuart Thom, Carl Bradshaw, Nigel Pepper, Mark Anderson and Chris Bennion have also been informed that they will not be offered new contracts.

Hodges moved to Glanford Park from West Ham for £50,000 in the summer of 1999 but Laws revealed the midfielder's unhappiness left him little choice but to release the 24-year-old.

"Lee was not enjoying his football and you can see that, so there was no point offering a new deal for an unhappy player and it is in his best interests as well as ours that he goes elsewhere," Laws told the club's official website.

"I know for a fact that he will and I would be surprised if he hasn't got anything lined up."

Defender Thom has struggled with injuries during his time with The Iron, while Laws also admitted Pepper is no longer fit enough to play in the Third Division.

Laws added: "I am disappointed releasing Nigel Pepper but he has come to the conclusion that he can no longer sustain the fitness levels for league football and that is why we have to release him.

"Stuart Thom will be leaving because he has been inconsistent in terms of injury problems."

Meanwhile, Laws has offered fresh contracts to ten players including Andy Dawson, Alex Calvo-Garcia and Wayne Graves, along with a batch of youngsters.