Cottagers chop eight in summer clearout
Ian Pearce is among eight senior players released by Fulham
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Friday, 23, May 2008 04:43
Premier League side Fulham have released eight senior players in preparation for a summer rebuilding job under manager Roy Hodgson.
The initial list of the eight senior players whose contracts will not be renewed includes American defender Carlos Bocanegra and veteran centre-back Ian Pearce - one of only a handful of players to have appeared in every Premier League season since its inception.
Finnish veteran Jari Litmanen, who was brought in by Hodgson in January to assist in the club's relegation fight but never played a game because of injury and poor form, will not be offered a new deal.
Frenchman Philippe Christanval and Ismael Ehui, New Zealand international Simon Elliott, Irishman Michael Timlin and Sweden's Bjorn Runstrom are the other players to be culled.
Defender Paul Stalteri has also left to return to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur since his loan spell at Craven Cottage expired at the end of the season.
"The club would like to thank the players for their contributions and wishes them all the best for the future," a statement from Fulham said.
Hodgson is keen to put his own mark on the club he inherited from Laurie Sanchez earlier this season, and today's announcement appears to be the first stage of this process.
The club narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship with a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth on the final day of the season, condemning Reading to the drop alongside Derby County and Birmingham City.