Stoke City: Jermaine Pennant is one of seven players released

Jermaine Pennant and Dean Whitehead are among seven players released by new Stoke City manager Mark Hughes.

Ex-England defender Matthew Upson, 34, long-serving Rory Delap, 36, Mamady Sidibe, 33, third-choice keeper Carlo Nash, 39, and fringe player Matthew Lund, 22, also failed to win new deals.

Stoke have also announced six departures from their backroom team.

Dave Kemp, Mark O'Connor, Paul Maxwell, Adrian Pennock, Dave Kevan and Gerry Francis have all left their roles.

Stoke appointed Hughes last week following the departure of fellow Welshman Tony Pulis - and it has already been reported that he would be joined by his regular backroom team.

Coaches Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki have previously worked under Hughes in all his managerial roles for Wales, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers.

Former England captain Francis since 2008, while Kemp, 60, ends an association with Stoke lasting back to 2004 when he was appointed as first team coach by Pulis in 2004.

He left when Pulis departed the Britannia Stadium in 2005, following him to his former club Plymouth Argyle, before returning to the Potters under Pulis in October 2006,

Former Arsenal winger Pennant, 30, who was once a 拢6.7m signing for Liverpool and played in the side beaten 2-1 by AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final, joined Stoke from Spanish side Real Zaragoza.

He initially joined on loan, in 2010 and played in their FA Cup final defeat by Manchester City in 2011.

But he made just two appearances for the Potters last season - both in August - and spent three months of the campaign on loan with Wolves in the Championship.

Midfielder Whitehead, 31, was a regular squad member under Pulis but made just 12 Premier League starts in his final campaign at the Britannia Stadium.

Former Republic of Ireland international Delap was a key member of the Stoke team during their early seasons in the top flight.

His long throws became a feature of their game but, after falling out of favour, he joined Barnsley on loan in January.

Upson was another player who was loaned out in January, the defender playing 21 times for Brighton.