GORDON Chisholm last night sparked a 16-player cull from Dundee - including high-profile stars Maros Klimpl and Richie Hart.
The Dens Park boss wasted no time in swinging the axe in the wake of the club's failure to win promotion to the SPL.
And while the majority of players released were going out of contract, Hart, Klimpl and striker Bryan Deasley have time left on their deals.
Klimpl arrived on a three-year contract last summer after a successful stint in the SPL with Motherwell but has failed to make an impact since Chisholm replaced Jocky Scott at the helm in March.
Hart, who has 12 months of his contract to run, joined from Ross County after Dundee fended off interest from Partick Thistle for his services.
All three players have been told they no longer figure in Dundee's plans and are free to move on.
Chisholm has also informed keepers Derek Soutar and Tony Bullock they won't be getting new deals, while Bob Malcolm, David Cowan, Eddie Malone, Colin Cameron, Darren Young, Chris Casement and Jim Lauchlan have joined them in heading for the exit.
Loan signings Andrew Shinnie, Ben Hutchinson and Ryan O'Leary have gone back to their clubs, while Gary MacKenzie is leaving for MK Dons.
Chisholm said: "We need to freshen things up. I felt sorry for a few of them because they have been great pros and have shown a good attitude but this needs to be done.
"The club needs to progress so that means bringing in new faces. We've still got about 15 players left under contract and I will be bringing more in.
"I've told the lads who are still here that it's now up to them. When they come back for pre-season they've got to come back with the right attitude and prepared to battle for a place in the team. There will be competition and if some of the boys who are here are not doing it then I'll move them on as well.
"I've already been talking to people about coming here so we'll see what happens over the summer."
Dundee outspent every team in the First Division last summer and are likely to do so again this year.
Eyebrows were raised when they handed out two and three-year contracts but Chisholm insist he's in favour of a more incentive-based system in what will be a buyers' market this close season.
He said: "Managers are cutting their squad sizes all over the country so there will be a lot of players on the market.
"The club has handed out two and three-year contracts in the past but that's not something I'm too keen on. Nobody at this level does that any more, except maybe in the case of quality young players.
"But these days it's a case of giving players a year and if they do well for you extending it. That's the road I'll go down.
"I always worry about players on long contracts getting into a comfort zone. I like having incentives - do well for me and I'll give you a new contract."
One player offered a new deal was 21-year-old goalkeeper John Gibson, who has impressed on loan to Peterhead this season and will get his opportunity alongside Rab Douglas after the summer.
Sitting
Chisholm said: "The squad was too big. I don't want to be going with 30 players again next season. I'd rather have 20 players and three goalkeepers. I've kept young John Gibson because the reports I've had about him have been good."
Dundee will also recall striker Mickael Antoine-Curier from his loan at Hamilton.
Chairman Bob Brannan is to step down from his role but plans to continue sitting on the club's board.