Southend have decided not to renew the contracts of five players, including midfielder Kevin Maher, who had been at the club for 10 years.

Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson, Tommy Black and Steve Collis are the four others to have been released following Southend's play-off defeat by Doncaster.

Meanwhile, loanee striker James Walker has now signed on a permanent basis from Charlton for an undisclosed fee.

Defender Simon Francis has been offered a one-year contract extension.

The 31-year-old Maher made almost 450 appearances for Southend after signing from Tottenham in 1998.

But he finished last season on loan at Gillingham after joining them in March.