Albion have released long-serving players Paul Watson and Nathan Jones.

The pair are out of contract and manager Mark McGhee has decided not to offer them new deals.

Watson and Jones were told when the players reported back yesterday from a four-day break in Marbella, celebrating Championship survival.

McGhee said: "It was very hard for them and a very difficult day for me. They were decisions which had to be made for the sake of my ability to develop the squad.

"I had to make space so there had to be casualties and they were the obvious ones because they are out of contract.

"I have enjoyed working with Paul. He never had a chance to show me what he could do because he has been injured on and off all the while I have been here.

"Nathan has been superb, both in terms of his contribution last season to us getting promoted and his contribution on the training field, in the dressing room and in terms of his attitude around the club this season, even though he hasn't featured as much.

"He has played as big a role as anyone else in the squad.

"We wish both of them luck. Any manager at Championship level or below would not be disappointed in them."

Watson played 197 League games in six seasons for Albion, the vast majority of them at rightback.

He joined the Seagulls from Brentford in July 1999 for a small fee following spells with Gillingham and Fulham.

The 30-year-old from Hastings missed only one of 92 games as Albion won consecutive titles in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

He also missed just one match when they were relegated from the old First Division two seasons ago before a succession of injuries began to take their toll.

Watson was restricted to 15 appearances as the Seagulls were promoted via the play-offs last season. The last of only four appearances this season came as a sub in the home defeat by Wigan in March.

Welshman Jones made 162 League appearances in five seasons, including the play-offs.

The left-sided midfielder, 32 later this month, joined Albion on a free transfer from Southend in July 2000.

He had been a regular until this season, when he lost his place following the signing of Darren Currie.

Jones was unable to regain a regular spot once Currie was sold to Ipswich in December. He made the last of three Championship starts in the defeat at Preston last month.