Free transfer for Bridges

Sunderland striker Michael Bridges has been handed a free transfer as manager Mick McCarthy prepares for life back in the Barclays Premiership.

The 26-year-old, who signed a permanent deal last season after a three-month loan deal from Bolton, has been told he can leave the club following their triumphant Coca-Cola Championship campaign.

He will join Marcus Stewart, Jeff Whitley and Michael Ingham, while Sean Thornton and Mark Lynch have been transfer-listed with McCarthy clearing the decks for a new challenge.

Bridges made just five league starts last season and 14 more as a substitute, scoring two goals; the first of them at Stoke on November 27 last year was his first in four-and-a-half years after a series of injury problems.

The North Shields-born player started his career on Wearside, scoring 21 goals in 92 appearances as back-up to Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips before making a £5m (€7.3m) move to Leeds in July 1999.