Former Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United heroes released by League One side

And Fleetwood Town are amongst those who have already begun their clear out – with some big names leaving the League One side, including three former Sheffield heroes.

Ex-Wednesday midfielder Glenn Whelan has been released by manager Simon Grayson.

The 37-year-old midfielder made 30 appearances in all competitions this season after initially signing for former team-mate Joey Barton in January 2020.

Whelan has clocked up over 600 league appearances, including 156 for the Owls, in a senior career that began in 2004.

It is not yet known whether Whelan will carry on playing.

Also departing are former Blades Paul Coutts and Mark Duffy.

Coutts, whose career at Bramall Lane was cruelly stunted by a serious injury picked up in a match against Burton, joined the Cod Army in 2019 as United were heading to the Premier League. He made 67 appearances in all and also had a loan spell at Salford while at Highbury, playing 18 times for them.

Higely popular double promotion hero Duffy left United soon after Coutts after a dispute with then boss Chris Wilder over his contract.

He joined Stoke City in the Championship on loan but failed to reach the heights of his time at Bramall Lane.

A move to Holland with ADO Den Haag, also on loan, came after that before the Liverpudlian joined Fleetwood. Duffy made 31 appearances there, scoring twice.