Thompson, his brother, Nick, club captain Greg Anderson and Zac Thomas have split with the club since the eve of the Bears’ trial against the Jets on July 11.

Anderson, who is due to become a father in November, had been coming off the bench and decided to have the rest of the year off after asking and gaining answers about his position at the club.

James and Nick Thompson were released on Sunday night during calls from football manager Tony Camps.

Bears coach Steve Piggott said Thomas was released for failing to tell Weston officials about an injury or illness, believed to be a concussion suffered while surfing on Saturday morning, which caused him to miss a game. Named on the bench, Thomas was unavailable for the second half against the Jets Youth that day after falling ill.

James Thompson, 18, was Weston’s leading vote-winner in the player of the year count with seven from 11 games and appeared a contender for rookie of the year.

Thompson claimed he was released after refusing to re-sign for next year and said “it was just really disappointing”. Nick Thompson, who had also been coming off the bench, was called soon after and also released.

“It feels like a kick in the teeth that I could have won an award but I haven’t really been given a chance now,” James said.

He said Weston first asked him to re-sign in late June.

“I was pretty keen to re-sign but then stuff started to change, just with everything with Greg and Nick, and it kind of made me unsure about what I wanted to do for next season,” he said. “I was undecided and I wanted to talk to my parents about it, so they gave me more time. Then I got the call on Sunday night that they needed to know. I was still undecided, so they said if that’s the case, you’re released from Weston and you won’t be able to play the rest of the season.”

Of James Thompson, Piggott said: “I don’t think the club was satisfied with the way he conducted himself in the end and I’m pretty sure he brought his brother into it … it became untenable for the club”.

James said he was “disappointed with the way Nick was treated, and it was a small part in why I hadn’t re-signed, but the main reason was I wanted to play with experienced players so I could become a better player.”

He said he wanted to know who the club, which appears headed for back-to-back NPL wooden spoons, was recruiting for next season but they did not tell him.

Nick was disappointed his brother’s season was cut short and he was released after the June 30 deadline. Piggott said he had an agreement with Nick “for him to see out the rest of the year and prove his worth” but he was also dealt with for disciplinary matters and “I think the club said enough was enough”.

“It’s always disappointing to part ways with any player, but in the end the club has to move on,” Piggott said.

Nick Thompson had served a two-week club-imposed ban for being sent off for dissent towards a match offcial.

James Thompson came from the under 18 Jets to Weston this year and said he “would have been happy to play 20s or 18s for the rest of the year” and “not being able to play anywhere is not fair”.