Premier League Stars Released from Contracts

Patrick Vieira, Jonathan Woodgate and Owen Hargreaves head the list of Premier League stars released by clubs at the end of their contracts.

All the Premier League teams have now announced their retained lists for next season with those out of contract available to speak to other clubs over possible moves.

Former Arsenal and France captain Vieira is released by Manchester City after 15 months with the club and he is joined by Spanish full-back Javier Garrido.

Woodgate is the only high profile name leaving Tottenham Hotspur after failing to agree to a pay-as-you-play deal with the club, while Hargreaves ends his injury-plagued stay at Manchester United. Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar also take their place on the list after announcing their retirements.

Aston Villa end a disappointing season by announcing the release of John Carew, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Stoke City. Carew is joined by Nigel Reo-Coker, Robert Pires and cult favourite at Villa Park; Moustapha Salifou.

Blackburn Rovers wave goodbye to Jason Brown, Zurab Khizanishvili, Benjani and Maceo Rigters, while Bolton are releasing Tamir Cohen, Swedish striker Johan Elmander, who has already joined Galatasary in Turkey, Ricardo Gardener and Jlloyd Samuel.

Zoltan Gera, Diomansy Kamara and John Pantsil headline the departures at Fulham.

The three relegated clubs, Birmingham City, Blackpool and West Ham United, have released 32 players between them.

Elsewhere, excitement has begun already for the 2011/12 season as the first round draw for the Carling Cup was made this morning.

Birmingham City receive a bye after shocking Arsenal in the final of this year’s event, while fellow relegated sides West Ham United and Blackpool face Aldershot Town and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.

Local rivals Nottingham Forest and Notts County have been drawn together, while Leeds United take on Bradford City in another big local derby.

Due to Birmingham’s bye, league newcomers Crawley Town and AFC Wimbledon face each other in a preliminary round at Broadfield Stadium on Friday, July 29, the winner travelling to Crystal Palace in round one.

All first round ties will be played on August 8.

By Leigh Sanders

[Image courtesy of Julien Haler]