Sunderland boss Roy Keane has begun his threatened summer clear-out by releasing four players from the Stadium of Light.

Andy Cole, Ian Harte, Stephen Wright, and Stanislav Varga have all been told to find new clubs.

Cole signed a one-year contract at the start of the season but finished it on loan with Burnley having failed to score in seven matches.

Irish full-back Harte also had an unhappy spell with the Black Cats, and was put on the transfer list in January having only signed for the club last August.

Wright joined the North-East club in 2002 in a deal that would eventually rise to £3 million, but has struggled with injuries in recent seasons and had a spell on loan with Stoke at the start of this season.

Meanwhile, Slovak international Varga finished the season with Cole at Turf Moor after again being deemed surplus to requirements by Keane.

After last weekend's defeat at Bolton, Keane forcefully expressed his desire to make changes at Sunderland this summer.

"We've lost 22 games this season and people keep telling me we've had a good season, but I'm lucky to still be in a job," he said.

"We need to invest wisely and move some people on That will be done this week - if not this week, then the following week.

"It's irrelevant to me whether players are under contract. If they are, you just pay them up to go because you want certain characters.

"You pay them to come and you pay them to go and that's what we'll have to do. I'll have a very busy week."

Seán Fay / Eurosport