The 37-year-old defenceman failed to make the cut as player-coach Ed Courtenay was forced to axe one of his imports in order to stay within Elite League rules as he had 11 non-British players on the roster.

When the team won just twice in their opening nine games Courtenay beefed up his squad with new faces. The down side of that was that other players had to be shipped out when Trevor Johnson and Roman Gavalier returned from injury and Neumeier has followed Philippe DeRouville, Ryan Smith and Bari McKenzie in leaving the club early in the season.

While the rest of the Giants players are in Edinburgh for back-to-back games against the Capitals tonight and tomorrow Neumeier will be packing his bags to leave Belfast.

"This has been the toughest decision I have had to make so far as a head coach," said Courtenay.

"I honestly haven't slept in four days going over and over this in my head.

"It could have been one of three players that I had in mind and although Troy was the odd man out, I would like to re-iterate that he is a top class individual and came in and did the job he was expected to do all season long. I wish him the best of luck in the future."

Courtenay will now run with the line-up that he has until the end of the season, barring any serious injuries, and with all but one of his ITC cards used up there isn't really any room for manoeuvre.

Using the last card would have left Courtenay without any cover if anything should happen to goaltender Stevie Lyle before the end of the season and that's why the coach will hold onto the card.