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Keegan's clearout begins at Newcastle

06/05/2008

Kevin Keegan has begun his summer clearout at Newcastle United by announcing Stephen Carr and Peter Ramage will be leaving the club.

The defenders join academy graduate James Troisi in not having their contracts at St James' Park renewed.

All three players' contracts are due to expire when the current season ends.

Keegan said the club had offered Ramage a new deal but the 24-year-old had turned down the contract from his boyhood club to seek regular first-team football elsewhere.

"We wanted to keep Rammy, but he wants to play regular football, and I couldn't guarantee that here," the Toon boss told the official Newcastle website.

Keegan described Carr, who made 107 appearances for the Magpies since signing from Tottenham in 2004, as a "great pro for this club".

"He wasn't offered a contract and I explained the reasons why," he continued.

"James Troisi has also gone. He has gone to play for Australia in the Olympics, but he has not been offered a contract."

Keegan has reportedly been given a £35 million war-chest to bring in new players on Tyneside over the summer.

The club have already seen transfer target Luka Modric join Spurs, but Keegan is downcast on his team's chances of Premier League success.

"This league is in danger of becoming one of the most boring but great leagues in the world," he said after Newcastle's 2-0 loss to Chelsea.

"The top four next year will be the same top four as this year."