Roy Keane has started his Sunderland summer clear out as he allowed five players to leave, Ian Harte, Peter Hartley, Stanislav Varga, Stephen Wright and Andy Cole are all heading for the exit door.

Keane has remained defiant throughout that he is looking to allow players to leave during the summer.

Keane said: “I’ve spoken to the lads who are out of contract in the summer – Andy, Stan, Ian Harte, Wrighty and Peter Hartley – and told them they won’t be getting another contract.

“The contracts don’t expire for a few weeks yet. But I thought it was only fair to them that they were put in the picture.

“Every player has contributed this season and I want to put on record my thanks to them.

“Even if they didn’t play this season, they did last season and I haven’t forgotten that, but I have to make these decisions.

“As for Yorkie, I’ve had a discussion with him and we’re due to have another discussion next week because he has one or two other options that he is looking at.

“Yorkie is doing his coaching badges, and that is something he is interested in, but he also wants to play on for another year – that’s what we’re talking about.”