Defender Chris McCready has been shown the door after an injury prone season restricted the Chester born defender to six games last season. McCready came back to the club in June 2007 after spending a season at Tranmere Rovers where he managed 40 plus games.
Chester born keeper Stuart Tomlinson has also been released after slipping down the pecking order at the Alex. The Cat camr through the academy ranks at Gresty Road and made 20 appearances during his time making 11 starts last season for the Railwaymen but some poor displays in the number one shirt prompted Thordarson to sign John Ruddy on loan from Everton.
The biggest shock of a player being released was Warrington born Mark Carrington who made 23 appearances last season and was even praised but Thordarson for his displays in the midfield.
22-year-old Carrington was another that had progressed through the academy ranks who had a loan spell at Leigh RMI in his first season as a pro footballer. Carrington was hit by inury towards the end of the last season which meant that last appearance in a Crewe shirt was in the 1-0 defeat at home against Millwall.
Two youngsters who signed pro forms last season have also been released, defender Luke Danville and striker Josh Thompson.
Gudjon Thordarson told the official website "There are some tough decisions to be made. It is never easy to tell players that they will not be offered a new contract but that is the nature of the game and it is something you have to go through.
"The players I have chosen not to keep are out of contract in the summer and I saw no reason to offer them a new deal at this moment. I hope they can get themselves sorted out at new clubs and we wish them well.
"There will be a few more meetings with players. I will spend the next couple of weeks trying to sort out my squad. We will then try and bring in the best possible players we can. I will be looking to sign quality rather than quantity.
He added: "I want a smaller, stronger, more competitive squad and if that means waiting for the right players then I will."