AFC Wimbledon striker Jack Midson is among eight first team names released by the club in its summer clear out.

Midson, who counts the penalty that kept the Dons in League Two last season among his 42 goals for the club, was released on Thursday as boss Neal Ardley looks to cut player wages.

Joining Midson leaving the Cherry Red Records stadium are Will Antwi, Peter Sweeney, Charlie Strutton, Rhys Weston and Callum Kennedy.

The list also includes Luke Moore and Seb Brown, leaving only Sammy Moore from the side that won promotion to the Football League three years ago.

Ardley said: “Jack was our best paid player, and while some people will say he deserves that because he has done great things for the club and is a legend the club, at the same time the biggest earner in my budget was not a first choice for a large part of the season.

“I have never had an issue with Jack, he is a first-class professional – he was left out at the beginning of the season when he was out of form, and he came back into the side when he hit form.

“Unfortunately I have to work with a small budget and work out how to improve, and when you have a small budget, you have to use it to get the most playing time.”

He added: “It’s not necessarily a case of getting two players for Jack’s wage, I’d rather get someone better.

“But it’s tough - we started to look at our recruitment about four or five weeks ago, and we have been in touch with agents to see what they want for their players and we’ve been blown away.

“You have to get out there early before all the best players go, but at the same time they command what they want.”

Another two names on the released list could be Jake Nicholson and Charlie Sheringham, as the pair's situation is being reviews in the next two weeks.