TWTD understands that Richard Wright and David Wright have been told that their Town contracts will not be renewed when they expire at the end of the season. Defender Pim Balkestein can also leave the club during the summer, while Jon Stead and loanee Liam Rosenior have been told they are not in Roy Keane’s plans for next season.

The decision to release Richard Wright, who rejoined his hometown club two years ago, comes as no shock with Brian Murphy increasingly establishing himself as the club’s number one and with the former England man a high earner.

David Wright’s exit after three and a half years at the club is perhaps more surprising given that he is in the team at present, although Keane brought Rosenior in on loan for the season in August, indicating that the former Wigan man wasn’t a player he particularly rated and had also made a move for Danny Simpson before he joined Newcastle.

Balkestein, whose two-year deal is up in June, although the club had the option of a third season, has fallen out of favour in the second half of this season and is currently on loan at Brentford. The Bees are understood to be interested in signing the former Heerenveen man on a permanent basis, while the player is considering moving back to Holland.

Rosenior, whose Reading contract is up this summer, had established himself as Town’s first choice right-back until the latter stages of the season when he fell out of favour, particularly after his performance at Watford.

Stead, who is contracted to Town until the summer of 2011, joined Coventry on loan in January having failed to score enough goals in the first half of the season. A fee for Stead's permanent move to the Sky Blues is believed to have been agreed, although personal terms are yet to be settled. Daryl Murphy looks to be a direct replacement for the much-travelled former England U21 international.

Town have 11 players who are out of contract this summer and not all have them have yet been told their futures. Boss Roy Keane has also said that a number of players who will still be in contract next season are also likely to be on their way.

Photo: Action Images

ITFC1985 added 14:06 - Apr 28 did well to break into the box to score against Bristol City and WBA a couple of seasons ago, and did well to get into the box this season to score the winner against Derby. I can never remember seeing him "jog" back but i could be wrong, always thought he was consistent and fairly solid
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dobbie73 added 14:09 - Apr 28 El Nino - dunno if you meant that seriously or not, but I have been wondering about Gary Neville for several months now. It really wouldn't surprise me if he signed up for a couple of years ....
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reusersfreekicks added 14:16 - Apr 28 If this is true and David Wright is leaving then I think I have finally lost faith in Keane's judgement, retention and purchasing of players. Wright is a good solid defender who, when i saw him against Reading did loads of attacking. He wants to stay, has a good attitude and would be a good defender/squad player to keep - do not even have to promise him first team football. The merry go round of buying, selling and loaning continues with no positive outcome.

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hrj added 14:30 - Apr 28 Was feeling a bit more confident about next season thinking we have a solid back 4 in place with David Wright playing his part. Roy Keane has done some goods things at the club but I don't trust him in the transfer market he makes problems for himself.
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Blueknight85 added 14:36 - Apr 28 Whilst it is a bit of a suprise if it is true and David Wright leaves he probably isn't what we/Keane.... want/need at full back evryone knows we have been missing pace and width So pacey attacking full backs would probably be high on the wish list along with 1 or two wingers Shane 'o' conner is already on the left as a starter or back up depending how he gets on and Jamie peters now pretty much proffered as a full back is cover for both sides... Whilst i agree David Wright would be a very valuable squad member as back up and/or a tactical change he would most likely command wages to high to warrant such a part time position this is the championship and we are not Chelsea we cant just keep someone on a decent wage so we can use them if we need them... we got him from premiership wigan he will be one of our teams highest earners and do not think for a second he would accept much lower wages for such a position why should he? he would want first team football and can get it elsewhere for a good wage and it would be better for us to bring a current youth through as back up or bring in a new youth as back up on ow wages that could become more valuable like Keane did with Shane o'Conner I don't imagine Bruce will be staying also a highest earner and Eastmen and Smith seem very much in the frame i would take a guess at Eastmen being loaned out for the experience and to see how he gets on Smith would be n the bench and if any over cover is needed Eastmen would get recalled if he's doing well or we would loan someone in be interesting to know who Keane has lined up for Right back though he says he has 5 players identified that he wants if he has Told D.wright and rossenior they are going then one of ths must be a RB

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blue_floyd added 14:42 - Apr 28 Releasing David Wright. Another terrible decision by Keane. Another Sunderland reject joining us for the right-back slot?
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Blueknight85 added 14:43 - Apr 28 I mght strt typin mor txt spk blud 2 keep ma post size dwn init
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Blueknight85 added 14:49 - Apr 28 Wright was a Wigan Reject.... ill take Sunderland over Wigan any day grrrr i hated Wigan in the championship who gives a flying feck where a player comes from talk about discrimination! Its not like he is the only manager to bring in his old players they all do it and it makes sense find a new tune to whistle.
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austractor added 15:39 - Apr 28 D-Wright came from boro didnt he? So he may have been on abit more than we think. Not sure. Pretty ballsey from keane to get rid of him and Rosenior in the same cut. Relying on Peters and Oconnor seems a little optimistic so maybe there is an out of favour LR back at sunderland that we have forgotten about lol. I-Wirght was an obvious one, pour old Jug Ears. he should find a club easily enough though.

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MarkG76 added 15:44 - Apr 28 How wise it is to let these players leave will only really be shown by the quality of players that replace them. A waiting game and as most things Keane will either be proved right or wrong in the fullness of time. None of these players fall into the irreplacable category that someone like Wickham would (for me at least)
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Blueknight85 added 16:08 - Apr 28 Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1997—2004 Crewe Alexandra 213 (3) 2004—2007 Wigan Athletic 45 (0) 2005 → Norwich City (loan) 5 (0) 2007— Ipswich Town 120 (5)
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Lightningboy added 16:13 - Apr 28 Wouldn't be surprised if Keane brings in another sunderland player to replace David Wright - Nyron Noseworthy? Still think it's daft getting rid though..he can cover any of the back four positions and has proved that defensively we are more solid when he's playing.
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Blueknight85 added 16:17 - Apr 28 Yea Lightening boy that's the way to bankruptcy i think you will find... keep one of the highest earners to play back up. Who do you think we are Chelsea? i said it in a previous post in more detail but its way to long i doubt anyone read it lol
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bedsitfc added 16:38 - Apr 28 apart from d wright i agree with all them going as well as garvan quinn counago martin both healy's
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stinkiusminkius added 16:45 - Apr 28 Keane does seem to have his favourites and those players that he isn't keen on - and I can't see that it's purely based on their footballing merits. This is something that the pro-keaners slagged magilton off for but he's doing exactly the same. Worrying.
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hype313 added 17:14 - Apr 28 It's only taken 9 months but everyone here seems to be on the same wavelength! hallelujah! Yep along with the rest on here bit gutted for D wright as he is solid and could provide good cover next season but if he is on big money then fair enough, R.Wright shame as he is a local lad but reportedly on 15k a week then understandable. I think Pablo is in for the chop also but having been reminded today of Reuser, he is again solid, but not the legend that young Martijn is.

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Vexorg added 17:19 - Apr 28 Why would D.Wright be on big money - signed from Wigan Reserves when we hadn't got two beans to rub together?
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Vexorg added 17:20 - Apr 28 BTW .. new right back = G. Neville ..
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ITFC1985 added 17:20 - Apr 28 austractor - David Wright came from Boro?? played for Wigan mate
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Blueknight85 added 17:26 - Apr 28 he has had a new contract since then for a start and when signed would have been one of highest earners as he was a first team regular as one of our best players......is it all really that hard to understand in a simply put nutshell 1st team regulars get paid the most and fringe/youth players get paid less you cant have a fringe player getting paid first team regular wages you need that lump of ya budget to pay someone else to come and be the first team regular...... Simples says the Meercat

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austractor added 17:29 - Apr 28 Ah ok I couldnt recall sorry. Either way they were prem at the time werent they? thats what i was mainly referring to when I suggested he may have earned abit.
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tractorboybig added 17:37 - Apr 28 Keano has arrived. Crap team, crap management with no ideas, And he has you all raving on about changes for next season. Still it stops supporters talking about the real issues.
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Blueknight85 added 17:39 - Apr 28 ^ Obviously a Man-city, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Glasgo ranger's or Northern Ireland fan
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MACKEMYANK added 18:10 - Apr 28 I know it's off topic but any takers for George McCartney from Sunderland to fill the left back berth?
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jesus added 18:11 - Apr 28 Yes, a bit shocked. Not as shocked as when Rhodes was sold but I would have preferred to have found this out AFTER I know who his replacement is! I hope we don't get Murphy, or if we do, that he's better than he is now, come next season. Richard Wright, thanks for your service and good luck. Got to say, I'm a bit worried about other surprises that might be in store for us...

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