Paatelainen has been anxious to reduce the size of his squad, insisting it contained a number of players who would struggle for first-team action with striker Donaldson, having been told he could leave, joining Crewe Alexandra in a six-figure deal.

Moroccan striker Benji has headed for Belgian outfit Charleroi on loan until January but now Paatelainen has released midfielder Lynch and centre-back Bailey insisting the pair will benefit from joining new clubs.

Lynch was a member of the Scotland Under-20 World Cup squad only 14 months ago having forced his way onto the fringes the first team under Paatelainen's predecessor John Collins.

But stiff competition for a berth in midfield with the likes of Dean Shiels, Ian Murray, John Rankin, Filipe Morais, Merouane Zemmama, Ross Chisholm, Lewis Stevenson and Brian Kerr along with new arrivals Joe Keenan, Steven Thicot and Fabian Yantorno all battling for a place made further first team action most improbable.

Similarly, Mailey, signed as a 17-year-old from Irish side Institute by former manager Tony Mowbray, finds himself, now 20, down the pecking order behind skipper Rob Jones, Chris Hogg, Martin Canning and Darren McCormack with Murray and Thicot also capable of playing in central defence and again with little prospect of becoming a first-team regular.

Today, Paatelainen insisted it was far better Lynch and Mailey move on rather than see their careers stagnate.

The Hibs boss, who released both Northern Ireland Under-21 defender Dermott McCaffrey and Canadian youngster Keegan Ayre for the same reason earlier in the summer, said: "It's all about looking after the boys' careers. I know they'll be hurting right now, leaving a great club with a fantastic training centre and fabulous supporters, but in time I'm sure they'll understand that it is better for their careers and development to move on rather than stay here. I don't want that and I am sure they wouldn't want to be doing that either."

Pointing out how McCaffrey had already signed a three-yeear deal with SPL rivals Falkirk, Paatelainen added: "Sean and Paddy are two youngsters very keen to make a career in football for themselves and I am sure they will if they continue to show the same effort, determination and application they did at Hibs. We thank them for all their efforts and wish them all the best for the future."