Butt tells Allardyce: Get rid of Newcastle players who have no passion

Midfielder Nicky Butt has urged Allardyce to clear out the dead wood to take the club into a new era, claiming that several players must be ditched immediately.

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"I don't like slagging team-mates off but there are one or two who don't want to play," revealed Butt.

"We know that inside the dressing room and it's important people outside know because we feel there are a lot of players who give 100 per cent all the time."

Who could he be talking about? It has emerged that top scorer Obafemi Martins went AWOL after he was told that he would be left out of the final game of the season at Watford and Charles N'Zogbia hardly endeared himself to the coaching staff when informed he would be on the bench on Sunday.

Martins, who scored 17 goals since his £9million move from Inter Milan, claimed he was injured, even though two fitness tests failed to reveal any problems. In any case, he did not travel to Watford with the squad.

French winger N'Zogbia, who has been involved in several disruptions on the training ground, was removed from the list of substitutes by caretaker manager Nigel Pearson after the player started texting on his mobile during an important tactical team meeting, having discovered South African youngster Matty Pattison would be playing in his place.

Defender Titus Bramble is expected to leave for Portsmouth on a free transfer and Allardyce also has tricky decisions to make over the futures of players like Kieron Dyer, Stephen Carr and James Milner, who have all been linked with moves.

In addition, senior players like Shay Given, Scott Parker and Butt must enter a new regime with heavy hearts.

Allardyce will be the sixth manager Given has played under and, like skipper Parker and the experienced Butt, the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper may finally feel a fresh challenge at a new club should be his reward for almost 10 frustrating, trophy-less years with Newcastle.

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Former Manchester United midfielder Butt outlined the level of frustration among most of the squad at those few who are not dedicated to the black-and-white shirt and let down previous boss Glenn Roeder.

Butt said: "We all go through bad spells but I always give 100 per cent. But there are people who have ability but don't want to do well and that is wrong.

"The players have had a few chats and we know there will be changes but we don't know when. There is speculation it is Sam. We haven't been told yet.

"He would be a good capture for the club. He will be able to sort a few things that are wrong.

"The majority of the players in the dressing room are good lads who work hard and are good professionals. But there are a few who don't want to play for the club and we need to get that sorted out.

"Sam is a no-nonsense man. He looks like he will say things to your face and be honest. Everyone has high respect for him as a coach."

Although Freddy Shepherd would prefer to see Michael Owen stay at St James' Park — and expects him to do so after almost two seasons of injury — the Newcastle chairman recognises the England striker is one of the few assets on his books and the £9m sale figure in his contract could help fund other moves in the transfer market.

But Owen is not the only international player Newcastle will now be prepared to offload to bring in new blood for Allardyce, who is keen to bring strikers Nicolas Anelka and Kevin Davies from Bolton.

There are still issues for Allardyce and Shepherd to resolve before the former Bolton boss is unveiled at a press conference at St James' Park on Tuesday afternoon, with Allardyce keen to bring in Mike Forde and Mark Taylor, two of the backroom staff at the Reebok who have played significant roles there.

That would cost around £1m in compensation for Shepherd, who seems to have avoided a substantial pay-out to Bolton for Allardyce, who quit two weeks ago and did not take his new job until after the end of the season.

There is also the issue of Newcastle's coaching staff under Allardyce, who has inherited Pearson, Lee Clark and Terry McDermott from Roeder. He is apparently keen to keep at least Pearson.