Christophe joined Southend from Portsmouth in 2008

Southend United's Francis Laurent and Jean-Francois Christophe have been released by mutual consent.

The French pair had made it clear to new boss Paul Sturrock that they wanted to leave the club.

The number of registered professionals at Roots Hall is now down to seven, but Stuart O'Keefe and Franck Moussa have expressed their desire to leave.

Sturrock has agreed pre-contracts with ten players who cannot sign until the club has its transfer embargo lifted.

Laurent and Christophe, who have played 111 games between them for the Shrimpers, are not the first members of the squad to call time on their Southend careers.

Goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall, midfielder Alan McCormack and defenders Simon Francis and Adam Barrett have already had their deals torn up by the club in an attempt to save money on wages.

Meanwhile the club have arranged a friendly with Premier League side West Ham for Tuesday 3 August.

The Hammers are set to bring a full-strength side.

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