Sunderland Announce Full List Of Players Released

Today the club announced the list of players set to leave the club following the expiration of their contracts, and leading the list as expected is Craig Gordon.

Gordon has been unfortunate with injuries, and in that time has been surpassed by Simon Mignolet and to a lesser extent Kieren Westwood, leaving the club with little option to let the keeper who once cost close to £9m, leaves for nothing having amounted 95 appearances in five years, not to mention making the greatest save in Premier League history.

Also on the list with Gordon are fellow goalkeepers Trevor Carson and Lewis King. Carson we knew a while back was leaving and headed to Bury where he has spent significant time on loan, where as the younger Lewis King recently spent time at Stockport County on loan, and is likely to find himself at that level once again.

A few more youth players who failed to make a single first team appearance also are on the list, including defenders Liam Bagnall and Jordan Lavendar, plus midfielders James Brace and Brett Elliott. Elliott had made in-roads to the reserve team last year, but obviously it was deemed he'd never make the step up.

Strikers Jordan Cook and Oumare Tounkara are also released from their contracts. At this site we had high hops for Cook, but it appears he hasn't done enough to earn a new deal, and having recently impressed on loan at Carlisle United, it wouldn't be a surprise to end up their permanently. Cook made a couple of first team appearances under Steve Bruce, with notable cameos away at Manchester United and West Ham United.

Tounkara banged in goals at reserve team level having arrived as an unknown from Sedan SC in France. Having spent time on loan at Oldham Athletic twice, like Cook, expect him to end up there on a permanent deal soon. Some had hopes he could do something at the club after one or two decent preseason appearances but it's just not to be.

We wish all those who have left the club the very best for the future, and it's likely all will end up back in the professional game soon.

Meanwhile it's also been confirmed that Nicklas Bendtner, Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos have all returned to their parent clubs.

Confirmed List Of Players Released:

Craig Gordon
Trevor Carson
Lewis King
Liam Bagnall
Jordan Lavendar
James Brace
Brett Elliott
Jordan Cook
Oumare Tounkara