Saints have announced they have released former Eastleigh defender Aaron Martin from his contract by mutual consent - ending the his four year tenure at the club.

Having joined Saints in 2009 from the Spitfires, Martin made 29 appearance for the club scoring two goals to aid Southampton's rise to the Premier League.

After a loan spell at Salisbury City, he made his Saints debut in came 2010 - partnering Jose Fonte in the heart of Southampton's defence in a 2-1 loss to Gillingham.

He began the 2011-12 season as Saints' first-choice centre-back but the arrival of Jos Hooiveld saw Martin drop-down the pecking order.

He managed ten appearances that season, scoring once as Saints completed successive promotions.

Having helped Saints regain a top-flight place, Martin was then loaned out to Crystal Palace but he failed to make an impact at Selhurst Park and returned prematurely in January 2012.

He was then shipped out again on loan to League 1 Coventry City for the remainder of the 2012-13 season where he made 12 appearances for the troubled club.

Having failed to receive a squad number this season, the 24-year-old found his playing time limited to the development squad where he picked up a serious knee-injury in a friendly against his former team Eastleigh.

Having recovered, Martin played the whole of the development squad's 2-0 victory over Bolton last week, in which he scored.