Carr gets the boot in Magpies shake-up

NEWCASTLE manager Kevin Keegan has decided to release former Ireland international Stephen Carr at the end of the season.

Carr will join James Troisi and Peter Ramage in leaving St James’ Park in the summer as Keegan begins to put his own imprint on the squad he inherited from Sam Allardyce earlier this season.

Ramage, 24, was offered the chance to stay with his hometown club but has opted to pursue regular first-team football elsewhere.

Carr arrived in 2004 from Tottenham having earned a reputation as one of the best full-backs in England and had previously been linked with Manchester United.

But a series of injuries hampered his progress and he must now find alternative employment in the summer after 107 matches in four seasons at Newcastle.

“We wanted to keep Rammy (Ramage) but he wants to play regular football and I couldn’t guarantee that here,” Keegan told the club’s website, www.nufc.co.uk.

“He goes with our best wishes, as does Stephen Carr, who has been a great pro for this club. He wasn’t offered a contract and I explained the reasons why.”

Troisi made it as far as the bench but never made a full debut for the club.

“James has also gone. He has gone to play for Australia at the Olympics but he has not been offered a contract,” Keegan added.

Keegan admits he simply does not know how much money he will have to spend this summer.

The 57-year-old caused a major stir in the wake of the 2-0 defeat by Chelsea when he admitted he could not be given enough cash to close the gap on the Premier League’s top four in the short term, and that means his side will fight at best for fifth place next season.

Keegan said: “I don’t know, I have not been told. I don’t know what is here if I am honest.

“You really need to be talking to Chris Mort and whoever has just been appointed [deputy chairman Derek Llambias] or Dennis Wise about the finances for this football club.

“It’s not my job and I have never been involved in it.

“But I am saying that whatever finance will be there, it will not be enough to take us into the top four.”

Club owner Mike Ashley has ploughed in excess of £100 million into the club since completing his £134.4m takeover, to address the debt burden and fund the then manager Allardyce’s rebuilding programme last summer.