Reo-Coker among 10 Villa axings

Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker heads a list of 10 players who have been released by the Midlands club.

The 27-year-old joins John Carew – who spent the latter part of the season on loan at Stoke – Moustapha Salifou, Robert Pires, and Isaiah Osbourne through the exit door at Villa Park.

Youngsters Harry Forrester, Arsenio Halfhuid, Durrell Berry, Ellis Deeney and Calum Flanagan have also left the club.

Reo-Coker, a former England Under-21 captain, spent four years at Villa after signing from West Ham in a deal worth a reported 8.5 million pounds in July 2007.

Despite establishing himself as a regular under Gerard Houllier last season – making 30 appearances compared to only 10 under Martin O’Neill in the previous season – he is now free to move on.

Striker Carew signed for Villa in January 2006 from French outfit Lyon after spells with Valencia and Roma, and finished as the club’s leading scorer for three consecutive seasons.

But after falling out of favour with Houllier, he moved to Britannia Stadium in January in search of a fresh start, although Stoke boss Tony Pulis is yet to confirm whether he will offer the 31-year-old Norwegian a permanent deal.