Sunderland boss Roy Keane has released former Republic of
Ireland team-mate Kenny Cunningham as he prepares for life in the
Premiership. The 35-year-old defender is among four men to have
been shown the door by Keane after the club published the retained
list for next season.
Midfielder Tommy Miller and striker Kevin Smith have also been told
their contracts will not be renewed, while the Black Cats have
decided not to take up an option on Frenchman William Mocquet. The
decision follows the return of loan signings Jonny Evans and Danny
Simpson to Manchester United after the pair played a major role in
the club's victorious Coca-Cola Championship campaign.
Cunningham arrived at the Stadium of Light on a free transfer from
Birmingham last summer before Keane succeeded chairman Niall Quinn
at the helm and started the first 11 games of the campaign.
However, he lost his place through injury and made only one more
appearance - in the 2-0 league win over Barnsley on October 21 -
with Evans establishing himself alongside Nyron Nosworthy following
his January move from Old Trafford.
Miller, 28, moved to the club he had supported as a boy on a free
transfer from Ipswich during the summer of 2005 and made 29
appearances in their ill-fated Premiership campaign. He started the
first three games of the new season, but became surplus to
requirements after Keane's deadline day spree and was sent out on
loan to Preston. Miller briefly returned to the bench towards the
end of Sunderland's charge up the Championship table, but his last
game for the club came as a substitute at Barnsley on March
10.
Twenty-year-old Scottish striker Smith joined the Black Cats from
Leeds in January last year, but did not make a senior appearance
and spent part of this season on loan at Wrexham. Mocquet, 24, was
another who was sent out on loan, this time to Rochdale and Bury,
and did not figure for the first team. Another who arrived at the
club before Keane's appointment, the former France Under-21
international midfielder did so on a two-year deal from Le
Havre.
