Airdrie loanees Andy Ryan and Callum Smith have been released by their parent club Dunfermline after the Pars announced the exit of 17 players from East End Park.
Ryan and Smith were regulars in the Diamonds first-team before the Covid-19 shutdown took hold and their release from the Championship side could prompt Airdrie to swoop for permanent deals ahead of next season.
Last season Ryan left Airdrie to make the step up to the Pars, but since returning to the Penny Cars Stadium on loan in January, the striker netted five goals in seven appearances for the Diamonds.
Fellow forward Smith, meanwhile, has been with Airdrie on loan since the start of the season and made 35 appearances, scoring six goals.
The duo were part of a 17-man list announced by Dunfermline this afternoon, which also included Lee Ashcroft, Tom Beadling, Danny Devine, Paul Paton, Ryan Scully, Joe Thomson, Stuart Morrison, Gregor Jordan, Scott Cusick, Cammy Graham, Lewis Sawers, Josh Robertson, Lewis Crosbie, Craig Burt and Paul Brown.
In a club statement, the Pars blamed the uncertainty surrounding the return of football amidst the coranavirus pandemic.
The statement read: "All Scottish football clubs are now faced with challenging and uncertain times.
"As a consequence of this continued uncertainty, we are afraid to announce that unfortunately our club will not be in a position to offer new contracts, at this time, to any of the players who are out of contract over the coming days.
"As we don’t know when we will be playing games again we have no other option but to protect the future of the club itself.
"This has not been an easy decision to make, being aware of the impact this may have.
"We would like to offer our very best wishes to all of the players and their families, as well as thanking them for their services to our club."
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