Express & Star

Albion reveal who's leaving The Hawthorns

Albion today released Nicky Shorey and Somen Tchoyi – but Jerome Thomas, Simon Cox and Marc-Antoine Fortune are staying at The Hawthorns.

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Albion today released Nicky Shorey and Somen Tchoyi – but Jerome Thomas, Simon Cox and Marc-Antoine Fortune are staying at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies have activated one-year contract options to keep winger Thomas and strikers Cox and Fortune for next season.

But former England full-back Shorey and Cameroon forward Tchoyi, as well as young defender Joe Mattock, have been told their time with the Baggies is up.

The Baggies have refused to rule out offering new contracts to midfield duo Paul Scharner and Keith Andrews, who effectively became free agents at the end of the season.

But goalkeeper Marton Fulop, whose contract ended after his calamitous performance against Arsenal on the final day of the season, will not be offered a new deal.

Young goalkeeper Luke Daniels and teenage forward Romaine Sawyers have also had one-year options activated.

Sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth, said: "Liam Ridgewell has come in and very much made the left-back position his own.

"We felt Nicky and Joe's opportunities would therefore be limited.

"Joe is still at the beginning of his career and Nicky is an experienced player, with both requiring regular first-team football that we can't guarantee them at this stage.

"Joe was very instrumental in our promotion from the Championship - but his opportunities have been limited in the Premier League.

"Nicky made a key contribution over the last two seasons to us retaining our Premier League status and has been a model professional.

"Somen had some real highlights in his first season with us, including his hat-trick against Newcastle on the final day.

"He made a key contribution to us finishing 11th last season but due to the signing of Shane Long and the return to form of Marc-Antoine Fortune his opportunities to play have become fewer and fewer, so we decided it was best to part company.

"Lateef has been with us since he was 15 and I'd like to thank him for all his efforts.

"He's a really hard worker and he's had some successful loan spells in League One.

"We just felt staying in the Barclays Premier League for a third successive season means the bar has been raised, and it would be hard for him to break into our first team.

"I'd like to thank all four players and wish them well for the future.

"Neither Paul nor Keith had an option for us to trigger.

"While we're in a position where we do not have a permanent head coach we are holding open the possibility of negotiations to enable both players to come back to The Hawthorns."

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