RYAN Taylor has revealed that he was informed about his release from Newcastle United over the phone, before being asked to pass his mobile to Jonas Gutiérrez so his team-mate could be told the news of his own fate.

The duo were in Northern Ireland, where they are undertaking coaching qualifications, when the call came from Newcastle's caretaker manager, reported the Guardian.

"John Carver rang me and told me the club weren't going to offer me a new deal," Taylor told Sky Sports News.

"I then had a chat with him, he's a good friend of mine. I've spent a lot of time with John in and out of the club. So I had a chat with him and then he asked me to pass the phone to Jonas, which was unbelievable.

"I can't really blame John because he's under instructions on what to do."

Gutiérrez, who has recently recovered from testicular cancer, scored the goal which helped secure Newcastle's Premier League status on the final day of the season.

Both players had been informed that they would be released at the end of the season some months before, as Taylor himself confirmed.

"I didn't expect to get offered a new contract but it's not about that, you have to move on," said the defender.

"The more important thing is that they can pick up a phone and call me or call my agent and say, 'Listen, thank you for everything, we are going to release you'.

"That is more the way to do it."