Leedsunited.com 15/12/06
STONE DEPARTS
Leeds United thave cancelled the contract of midfielder Steve Stone by mutual consent.
The 35-year-old former England midfield player has been plagued by injury since he joined the Elland Road club for the start of last season and had no real alternative but the bring down the curtain on his playing career.
When he joined Leeds from Portsmouth, hopes were that Stone would bring his wealth of experience and knowledge to the side but he had the misfortune to suffer an Achilles tendon injury during his first training session with United.
He went through a season-long battle when, following an operation, the wound became infected. "The injury and the infection has taken its toll on me and there were times when I even struggled to get up out of bed in a morning because of the injury," he said.
"Things didn't really work out for me right from the start and it has been a big disappointment for me but that is the way things go sometimes," he said.
"It wasn't right for the club and it wasn't right for me but now that things have been sorted out it is a relief," he added.
Stone began his career with Nottingham Forest in 1989 and made over 200 appearances there before moving to Aston Villa ten years later in a £5.5m transfer. He joined Portsmouth in 2002 and left there for Leeds in the summer of 2005.He made his international debut with England in 1995 and went on to earn nine caps, scoring two goals.
STONE DEPARTS
Leeds United thave cancelled the contract of midfielder Steve Stone by mutual consent.
The 35-year-old former England midfield player has been plagued by injury since he joined the Elland Road club for the start of last season and had no real alternative but the bring down the curtain on his playing career.
When he joined Leeds from Portsmouth, hopes were that Stone would bring his wealth of experience and knowledge to the side but he had the misfortune to suffer an Achilles tendon injury during his first training session with United.
He went through a season-long battle when, following an operation, the wound became infected. "The injury and the infection has taken its toll on me and there were times when I even struggled to get up out of bed in a morning because of the injury," he said.
"Things didn't really work out for me right from the start and it has been a big disappointment for me but that is the way things go sometimes," he said.
"It wasn't right for the club and it wasn't right for me but now that things have been sorted out it is a relief," he added.
Stone began his career with Nottingham Forest in 1989 and made over 200 appearances there before moving to Aston Villa ten years later in a £5.5m transfer. He joined Portsmouth in 2002 and left there for Leeds in the summer of 2005.He made his international debut with England in 1995 and went on to earn nine caps, scoring two goals.
