Wayne Jacobs believes City have finally shaken off the lingering effects of the "Premiership dark days".

City last week released five senior players and others could follow in the on-going bid to live within their means following all the financial turmoil.

It has been a tough few days for the remaining City players, particularly Jacobs (pictured), the longest-serving member of the dressing room.

But Jacobs hopes last week's exodus will be the final fall-out from the bombshell of going down from the top flight in 2001.

He said: "What has happened in the last few days is still an after-effect of being relegated. Even two years on, it is still hitting us.

"We took the big hit of relegation from the Premiership and on the back of that going into administration. It has just not stopped and that is the sole reason so many players have had to go.

"It affects every club who goes down. When you look at someone like Sheffield Wednesday dropping into the Second Division it's incredible.

"But hopefully that is now it. This will signal the end of those dark days and we can start to look forward again."

Aidan Davison, Andy Myers, Robert Molenaar and Gus Uhlenbeek all played their last game for City on Sunday. And the futures of Claus Jorgensen and Peter Atherton at the club remain in doubt.

Jacobs said: "The mood is a bit sullen and down because people are leaving. It's always hard to say goodbye to good friends you've played with for years.

"But credit to everybody involved for achieving our goal of staying up. We must not under-estimate that because there has been so much chopping and changing with what happened at the start of the season.

"It's been a great achievement and I think the fans appreciate it."

City are back for pre-season on June 23 when Jacobs expects to see a host of new faces.

He added: "It is going to be an interesting time for everyone and I'm sure the optimism will start to rise. Hopefully when we come back the clock will be set at zero and we can all start looking forward again."