ALBION have awarded new contracts to a quartet of under-21 players, while six others have been released.

Full-back Rob Hunt, centre-half Tom Dallison, midfielder Jess Starkey and winger Joe Ward have all signed or are considering new deals.

Meanwhile, goalkeepers Josh Smith and Harry Doherty, plus strikers Chike Kandi, Daniel Akindayini, Robin Deen and Icelander Ragnar Mar-Larusson, have all been released.

Hunt and Ward have agreed to extend their contracts until the end of next season.

Dallison, right, has signed for another two years and Starkey has been offered a 12-month extension.

Academy manager John Morling said: “It’s great for someone like Rob Hunt, who has been here for five years and was arguably one of the most consistent players in the under-21 squad.

“He played in the first team during pre-season and featured on the bench for the FA Cup game at Hull City.

“Similarly, Tom Dallison had a really good year for the under-21s. He’s also had loan spells at Dartford, Braintree and Crawley.

“Both players will be looking to force their way into the manager’s plans for next season or the next logical step will be to secure a loan move to a Football League club.

“We’ll wait until after pre-season to see how they do, but they’re both ready for the Football League. It’s great they’ve signed again and both players have got a really good future.

“Joe had a slightly different path to the other two players. We signed him from Chelmsford and coming from non-league football to professional football is a big step.

“He’s got good pace and is an old-fashioned winger, who gets down the line and gets crosses in. It’s a good chance for all three players to move up the ladder in their quest to becoming professional footballers.

“Jesse finished the season really well.

“He’s a left-footed central midfielder from Sussex, is technically gifted and will also be looking to make his league debut next season.”

Forward Vahid Hambo, plagued by injury problems in his first season with the development squad, is in Finland’s squad for an under-21 European Championship qualifier against the Faroe Islands on Thursday.