There are unlikely to be any reprieves for Sunderland's out-of-contract hoard as the summer approaches, Gus Poyet has confirmed.
Seb Larsson, Craig Gardner, Carlos Cuellar, Jack Colback, Keiren Westwood, Phil Bardsley, Andrea Dossena and Oscar Ustari are due to be come free agents following the season, and there are no current talks to extend anyone's stay.
Poyet told reporters:
We had our intentions [with out of contract players] and they didn't work out.
We've stopped now and there's no more talks with anyone.
I think, of the lot, Jack Colback is the only genuine loss, and many will disagree with me on that. Carlos Cuellar and Oscar Ustari could probably have some use too, but that probably depends on the plans for next season.
It just all ties in nicely with Poyet's recent lament about the need to clear the decks and rebuild. He is right on that score. It's going to be a summer of massive upheaval, but one which needs to happen.
Chris Young of the Sunderland Echo invoked the phrase "root and branch reform" today, and I think he has hit that nail firmly on the head.