Six of the Stoke City's seven final-year youth teamers are being released at the end of the season.

The seventh, Nathaniel Wedderburn, had already agreed professional terms and has recently returned from a second loan spell at Notts County.

Youth coach Adrian Pennock had the unfortunate task of breaking the sad news of their release to Tom Harrison, Salif Diao, Richard Vauls, Ashley Page, Darren Brunt and Yusuf Yilmaz.

"It's horrible, especially when you've been working so closely with these lads for the last two years," Pennock admitted.

"But I told them this wasn't the end of their football careers and I'll do my best in helping them get fixed up elsewhere.

"I said they can look themselves in the mirror because they've been a credit to themselves and their club.

"They've given their all, now they have to carry on giving that because there could be scouts watching them in this season's remaining matches."