The news may come as a surprise to Saints fans as, out of the eight players whose contracts have expired, they were the ones most fans would have wanted to keep and seemed willing to stay. Innes seemed reasonably solid in defence this season and scored three goals from set pieces, while O'Donnell also weighed in with a few goals - including the late equaliser at Falkirk that all but secured our survival.
However, the pair also had their downsides. Innes got himself stupidly sent off in the Falkirk game, while O'Donnell seemed to be at his best coming off the bench. He started a fair number of games and didn't really impress that often. Having spent most of his time at the club injured, this season was his real chance but he didn't take it.
O'Donnell was brought in midway through the 2006/07 season from Clydebut spent most of the next two seasons injured. Innes, meanwhile, had a spell on loan at Saints in 1999 before returning last summer after leaving Livingston.
That leaves the future of six players still to be sorted - Jack Ross, Andy Dorman, Steven Robb, Allan Johnston, Tom Brighton and Garry Brady. It seems Ross is destined for pastures new, while Dorman looks likely to leave of his own accord due to interest elsewhere. The other four must be rather nervous considering Innes and O'Donnell seemed favourites for new deals.
It would also seem that Gus MacPherson's former assistant manager Andy Millen has left the club, paving the way for Iain Jenkins to move from Cowdenbeath and link up once again with Lennon.