DUO SET TO LEAVE ELLAND ROAD
leedsunited.com 16/4/12
The contracts of homegrown defender Ben Parker and Finland international Mika Vayrynen have been cancelled by mutual consent. Both players contracts were due to expire in the summer, but an early termination has been agreed. Ben is likely to remain at Thorp Arch until the end of the season to continue training with the squad.
Ben was the longest serving player at the club, having first tasted senior action back in the summer of 2006 when he featured heavily in the club's pre-season games. He spent the 2006/07 season on loan at Bradford before making his Leeds debut at Macclesfield in the Carling Cup in August 2007.
His league debut followed a few days later against Southend United and after featuring regularly during the first half of the season, he moved to Darlington on loan following the arrival of Gary McAllister as manager.
Ben featured regularly the following season, scoring his only goal for the club at Northampton in the FA Cup, but disaster struck on the opening day of the 2009/10 campaign when he suffered an injury against Exeter that was to prove the start of over two years on the sidelines.
The former Academy youngster underwent a series of operations and made a number of aborted comebacks before finally returning to action around Christmas 2011. Ben hasn't featured for Leeds this season, but had a loan spell at Carlisle United.
In total, Ben has made 47 starts for the club and seven sub appearances.
In contrast, Vayryrnen has started just three games and made nine appearances as a substitute since Simon Grayson signed him in September. He made his debut as a sub against Man U in the Carling Cup and his full league debut came at Peterborough the following month.
Mika's most recent appearance was in the FA Cup reverse at Arsenal.
The club wishes both players every success for the future.
The contracts of homegrown defender Ben Parker and Finland international Mika Vayrynen have been cancelled by mutual consent. Both players contracts were due to expire in the summer, but an early termination has been agreed. Ben is likely to remain at Thorp Arch until the end of the season to continue training with the squad.
Ben was the longest serving player at the club, having first tasted senior action back in the summer of 2006 when he featured heavily in the club's pre-season games. He spent the 2006/07 season on loan at Bradford before making his Leeds debut at Macclesfield in the Carling Cup in August 2007.
His league debut followed a few days later against Southend United and after featuring regularly during the first half of the season, he moved to Darlington on loan following the arrival of Gary McAllister as manager.
Ben featured regularly the following season, scoring his only goal for the club at Northampton in the FA Cup, but disaster struck on the opening day of the 2009/10 campaign when he suffered an injury against Exeter that was to prove the start of over two years on the sidelines.
The former Academy youngster underwent a series of operations and made a number of aborted comebacks before finally returning to action around Christmas 2011. Ben hasn't featured for Leeds this season, but had a loan spell at Carlisle United.
In total, Ben has made 47 starts for the club and seven sub appearances.
In contrast, Vayryrnen has started just three games and made nine appearances as a substitute since Simon Grayson signed him in September. He made his debut as a sub against Man U in the Carling Cup and his full league debut came at Peterborough the following month.
Mika's most recent appearance was in the FA Cup reverse at Arsenal.
The club wishes both players every success for the future.
