Fulham Manager Roy Hodgson has wasted little time in beginning the re-building process for next season after only avoiding the drop on goal-difference thanks to a last day win against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
He has told a total of nine players, including Carlos Bocanegra and Jari Litmanen, from this season’s playing staff that they are surplus to requirements as the Craven Cottage side target a steady mid-table finish next year.
The experienced Hodgson is said to be eager to make his own mark on the Fulham team after guiding the West London side to a survival that seemed impossible with just three matches to go.
Bocanegra is the most surprising on the list of players who are being released. The American international captain is a versatile asset right across the back-line and had featured in 26 Premier League games last season.
Litmanen, on the other hand, was tipped to be a key player after signing in January. However the Finnish former Liverpool star ended up not playing a first-team game after a constant battle to gain match fitness.
Along with that duo, Philippe Christanval, who departs with only 26 starts to his name, Simon Elliott, Ian Pearce, the veteran defender failed to feature in the first-team squad since last August and spent a period on loan with Southampton, Michael Timlin, Ismael Ehui and Bjorn Runstrom have all been instructed to seek pastures new after their contracts were not extended.
Canadian Paul Stalteri, who spent the closing months of the last campaign on-loan at Fulham, has been returned to Tottenham without an offer for a permanent transfer being made.
