SIMON Hackney has become the fourth player to be informed by Colchester United manager John Ward that they will be released by the club this summer.

The 27-year-old left-winger has made just two substitute appearances for the U’s this season and was on loan at League Two side Oxford for two months recently.

He joins Morten Knudsen, Sam Corcoran and Medy Elito in being told that they will not be offered new deals when their current contracts expire this summer as the club looks to tighten its finances.

Hackney was brought to the Essex club by Paul Lambert for a six figure sum from Carlisle during the 2009 January transfer window and the second half of that campaign, as well as the very beginning of the next, were a big success as his direct running quickly made him a fans’ favourite.

However, after getting three assists in the 7-1 demolition of Norwich on the opening day of the 2009/10 season, the Manchester-born winger quickly found himself out of favour when Lambert left for Norwich.

He made just five starts under replacement Aidy Boothroyd before being loaned out to League Two side Morecambe in the second half of last season.

And despite playing a handful of games at the back of that campaign, he again found himself back out in the cold when John Ward replaced Boothroyd last summer.

Altogether he has made just 25 starts for the U’s, with a further 16 substitute appearances, over two-and-a-half seasons. He has scored three goals for the Essex club – one in the league, one in the FA Cup and one in the League Cup.

He had been helping Oxford push towards a play-off position in recent months, but had to return to Colchester recently due to injury.