CHARLTON manager Alan Pardew is thought to be poised for a ruthless cull after the club slipped into the Championship.

Pardew has so far refused to answer questions on how many of the squad will still be at The Valley next season.

However, it seems certain that England international Darren Bent will be sold with Liverpool thought to be ready with a £17million offer for the striker.

China captain Zheng Zhi will also leave as the terms of his loan hinged on Charlton retaining Premiership status. Other loan players – goalkeeper and player-of-the-year Scott Carson plus midfielder Alex Song – will return to their respective clubs.

Dennis Rommedahl has publicly stated that he intends leaving while former skipper Luke Young is being strongly linked with a move to Aston Villa.

Marcus Bent, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Bryan Hughes and Darren Ambrose also look set to fall victim to a clearing of the decks as Pardew prepares to put his own stamp on the club.

* Keep up to date with all the news from The Valley every week in the Bexley Extra.