Neal Ardley will do all he can to help the players shown the AFC Wimbledon exit door this week to find pastures new.

The Dons manager wielded the axe on nine players – Jason Prior, Rashid Yussuff, Pim Balkestein, Mat Mitchel-King, Stacy Long, Curtis Osano, Chris Hussey, Kelly Youga and Louis Harris – on Tuesday, while goalkeeper Mikhael Jaimez- Ruiz’s future will be cleared up when he returns from holiday.

Long, who made 32 appearances last season, Hussey and Balkestein are perhaps the most surprising names, but Ardley will not abandon them, having offered his services to help them find new clubs.

“We tried to do it with compassion and I said to the boys I will help them all I can,” he said.

“If they get their agents to call me, then I will help. My management style is based on respect and treating people the way you would like to be treated yourself.

“If an agent rings me, he is doing his job, and I will help, and, if a manager rings me about a player, then I will help as well.”

It was the first time Ardley has had to release senior players and he admitted it was harder than he thought, despite his experience dealing with youngsters at Cardiff’s academy.

“I have been used to doing similar things at Cardiff with U18 players coming up for professional contracts and U16 players for apprentices,” he said.

“But when you are talking to adults it’s a little bit harder than you think it will be.

“Academy players know they are coming into a tough environment where it is difficult to break through and there is a lot of competition.

“But these boys have run through brick walls for me all season and it is their living. Some of them have families to look after.

“The look in one or two of their eyes when we told them, it was quite difficult.”

Luke Moore, Charlie Strutton and Kevin Saint-Luce have been offered new deals.

Goalkeeper John Sullivan, released by Charlton Athletic after a loan spell at the Dons last season, was also offered a permanent deal but turned it down to sign for League Two Portsmouth instead.

“Delighted to have signed for Portsmouth for the next two years,” he tweeted.

“Massive club  and I’m excited about the project ahead. That does not take anything away from AFC Wimbledon and the amazing time I’ve had there.

“I loved every minute with you. I just felt at this stage of my career I couldn’t turn down Portsmouth.

“I believe Neil Ardley will do a great job and I will look forward to coming back and seeing many friends and familiar faces next year.

“Once again Dons fans, thank you.”