Gavin Donoghue, Jake Richardson and Billy Dennehy have been told they are free to find new clubs by Sunderland.

Dublin-born centre-back Donoghue joined Sunderland on a two-year scholarship in 2005 and was offered a one-year pro deal last summer, says the Shields Gazette.

Midfielder Richardson, 19, is the son of former reserve team coach Kevin Richardson, and, like Donoghue, has been a regular in the second string this and last season after coming through the club's Academy.

Left-winger Dennehy, meanwhile, played seven games on loan with League Two Accrington Stanley earlier this season.

The 20-year-old, from Tralee in the south-west of Ireland, joined Sunderland more than two years ago after a successful trial.