Portsmouth unveil retained list - Brett Pitman and Oli Hawkins among departures

However, Lee Brown and Brandon Haunstrup, who is attracting interest from Kilmarnock, will both be offered new deals to keep them with the Blues.

There were few surprises over the fate of Pompey’s out-of-contract players.

It was widely known Luke McGee, Adam May and Matt Casey would not be retained by Kenny Jackett, while Pitman’s ongoing exile suggested no Fratton future.

In addition, Christian Burgess has secured a free transfer move to Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

The decision to release Hawkins reflects a frustrating time for the striker since netting the penalty winner against Sunderland in the Checkatrade Trophy final in March 2019.

He started just 16 more times, scoring once, while suffered from injury spells and even had a turn at centre-half earlier this season.

This term, he featured in seven League One matches, although did score his penalty in the shoot-out defeat at Oxford United in the play-off semi-finals.

That proved to be the 28-year-old’s final outing, totalling 96 games and 18 goals for Pompey.

Elsewhere, Jackett is keen to keep left-backs Haunstrup and Brown and talks over fresh deals are planned.

Although Mark Catlin had previously admitted terms could be affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Brown was named Pompey skipper for the play-off opener against Oxford, while appeared as a substitute in the second leg.

However, Haunstrup, whose last appearance was in January, failed to make the 20-man squad for either game.

The Waterlooville defender has made 57 appearances and scored once after coming through Pompey’s ranks.

Meanwhile, loanees Ross McCrorie, Sean Raggett and Cameron McGeehan and Steve Seddon have returned to their parent clubs.

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