PICKERING Town have ann-ounced the departures of five players as manager Steve Roberts looks to build for the upcoming 2020/21 campaign.

Among the big names leaving the club are veteran full-back Dave Merris and promising young goalkeeper Charlie Andrew.

Keeper Sam Riches has left Mill Lane by mutual consent, as have forwards Charlie Birley and Leon Osborne.

“We wish all the players the very best for the future and thank them for their time with the club,” a club spokesperson said.

Merris joined the Pikes last year following a four-year spell with Scarborough Athletic.

A former Football League player with York City, the 40-year-old now lives in Guernsey, making a new contract at Pickering less than practical.

Andrew first joined Pickering in October 2017 before leaving in January 2019. He returned for the start of the 2020/21 campaign, during which he made nine starts and kept two clean sheets.

Pickering’s spokesperson added: “It is also with a great degree of sadness that we announce that also leaving to take up a full-time role at a pro club academy is goalkeeper Charlie Andrew.

“It was a real coup to bring Charlie back to the club last year and he performed fantastically as we expected him to do.

“We will miss him but wish him all the best as he progresses his career.”

Meanwhile, the club have also confirmed that the management team of Steve Roberts and Tony Hackworth, together with chairman Wayne Taylor and committee members Stuart Haines, Jamie Hopwood and Sam Prest will take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday, July 3.

They will be joined by club sponsor Gordon Gibb of Flamingo Land.

The money raised will be split between the club and Scarborough-based 24-year-old Liam Critchett, who is raising funds for physiotherapy to assist in his journey to walk again after spinal cancer.

To contribute, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pickeringtownfcpeak.