Bramble released as new boss Allardyce swings the axe

The 25-year-old defender, whose time at St James' Park has been blighted by costly errors, was one of five players released by the club a day after Allardyce was unveiled as Glenn Roeder's successor.

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Fellow defenders Craig Moore and Olivier Bernard, as well as keeper Pavel Srnicek and loan signing Oguchi Onyewu, have all been told their contracts will not be renewed.

Today's announcement comes as no surprise with Bramble, Moore, Bernard and Srnicek all out of contract and United States international Onyewu having failed to make his mark in the Barclays Premiership having joined on loan from Belgian side Standard Liege in January.

But it is perhaps Bramble's departure which is the most notable five years after Sir Bobby Robson paid Ipswich £5million for his services.

The former England under-21 international arrived at St James' Park two days before his 21st birthday having broken through the ranks as a teenager at Portamn Road.

Fast and powerful, he looked to have all the attributes required by a top-class defender, but his concentration and inability to stamp out the errors which caused his lowest points on Tyneside ultimately cost him his chance.

Successive managers worked with the defender in the attempt to eradicate the mistakes from his game but, despite excellent performances at times, the job was never completed.

In all, he managed 156 senior appearances for the club and scored seven goals, the last two of them the final-day winner over Chelsea which earned the Magpies their place in this season's Intertoto Cup and the decisive strike against Ventspils which clinched a UEFA Cup berth in the qualifying round.

Moore, 31, was hampered by lengthy injuries during his two seasons on Tyneside after a free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach, but 21 of his 29 starts came this season.

Bernard did not make a single senior appearance in his second spell at St James' after returning from Rangers having lost his conditioning and regretting ever leaving the Magpies in the first place.

Old favourite Srnicek was drafted in last autumn with Shay Given on the long-term injured list, and got his chance over Christmas with the Irishman and deputy Steve Harper both on the sidelines.

The 39-year-old came on as a substitute in the 3-1 win over Tottenham on December 23 for his first appearance for the club in nine years, and made his only start at Bolton on Boxing Day.

Onyewu, 25, was drafted in by Roeder in January as he looked to strengthen his defensive resources with no cash available.

However, he started only six games and made four further appearances as a substitute and was unable to persuade the club to take up an option on him.