MALCOLM CROSBY’S departure from Middlesbrough’s pay-roll will be just the first of many to leave the Riverside this summer, according to chief executive Keith Lamb.

It was confirmed on Wednesday that Crosby, Gareth Southgate’s assistant manager, was the first high profile casualty of the club’s relegation, but unlikely to be the last.

Goalkeeper Ross Turnbull will also leave when his contract expires at the end of this month, while others will be sold on.

Southgate needs to sell to raise the finances required to tinker with his squad ahead of the start of their first season outside of the Premier League since 1998.

Stewart Downing, Tuncay Sanli, Gary O’Neil and Robert Huth are among the leading candidates to go.

Lamb’s comments, however, suggest there could be even more heading for the exit door.

“I’m bitterly disappointed that we have been relegated but you have to look on the positive side, what you can take from it, and you can have a clear out,” said Lamb, speaking before the departure of Crosby and not talking directly about the former No 2.

“We had 11 years in the Premier League which is a long spell. During that time you can develop a bit of fat and carry unwanted staff.

“This will give us a chance to make us leaner and meaner to help the club grow more.

Hopefully we will get back into the Premier League at the first attempt.”

There remains a chance that one of those who could leave this summer will be defender Rhys Williams, although Southgate hopes to keep him.

Burnley have already contacted Boro about the player’s availability and were left clear about a reluctance to sell the Australian international who has proven himself at Championship level while on loan at Turf Moor last season.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle appears cool on a valuation that could be as much as £1.5m. “I’ve not spoken to Middlesbrough about him,”

said Coyle. “He’s a player I like, there’s no doubt about that, but I’m not going to get involved with the speculation.

“What I would say is that I’ve already put a couple of offers in for players at different places and they were initially rejected.

“Then you move on or revisit it and that’s where we are and Rhys Williams was not one of those we made an offer for.”