Saints have released Florin Gardos after a stay that cost the club around £680,000 per appearance.

The Romanian central defender has been let go after a four year stay in which he played just 18 games in all competitions.

Taking into account his £6m fee and reported wages of around £30,000 per week, it means each appearance came at a terrific cost.

Gardos has had the misfortune of suffering a string of injuries during his time at Saints, but has been so far down the pecking order in recent times there seemed no prospect of him playing for the club again.

The 29-year-old played 17 times in his first season with the club, but has managed just one further match in the past three years to become a forgotten man of St Mary’s and, given his wages, one that was always likely to be hard to move on permanently.

Saints have plenty of central defensive cover so Gardos leaving is unlikely to cause many issues, but the club will be in the market for a new right back this summer after confirming they are also releasing Jeremy Pied.

Pied leaves St Mary’s at the end of his two-year contract having played seven times for the club.

The 29-year-old right back was signed by Claude Puel, who had managed him at two previous clubs, but suffered the misfortune of tearing his ACL just a fortnight into his first season at Saints.

That kept Pied out for all but the last knockings of the campaign and by the time he was really fit enough to be able to contend for a regular starting spot Puel had gone and chances were limited under Mauricio Pellegrino and later Mark Hughes.

With just three appearances to his name last season Saints were always unlikely to retain Pied, but with only Cedric Soares remaining as a recognised senior right back the club will need to bring in cover.

Saints have also released a raft of youth players who haven’t quite made the grade.

Moving on are Ollie Cook, Armani Little, Will Wood, Ben Cull, Oliver Gardner, Javen Siu, Richard Bakary and Olufela Olomola.

Olomola has already joined Scunthorpe while Wood has signed for Accrington Stanley.

In a statement Saints said: “Southampton Football Club would like to thank each and every one of the players for all their hard work and commitment during their time with the club, and we wish them all the very best for the future.”