Leeds United: Austin and White released by Whites
Yorkshire Post 13/5/15
Phil Hay
Rodolph Austin and Aidan White were the most high-profile casualties as Leeds United released nine players.
Austin and White have both been told they will not be handed new contracts when their current deals expire at the end of next month.
But United have offered contract extensions to Kalvin Phillips and Lewis Walters, easing fears that the two academy products might leave Elland Road this summer.
Austin’s exit brings to an end to his three-year stay at Leeds while White is quitting a club he first joined at the age of nine.
The left-back caused waves when he broke into United’s first team as a teenager in 2008 and he made a total of 111 appearances.
White, however, never established a settled position and the 23-year-old’s final season at Elland Road was largely written off by a broken foot bone.
Austin also amassed a century of appearances for Leeds and played regularly throughout the recent Championship term.
Leeds paid around £300,000 to sign him from SK Brann in 2012 but he will move on for nothing this summer.
Wigan Athletic tried and failed to sign the Jamaican international in January and Millwall, Brighton and Bolton Wanderers have all been linked with him in the past six months.
Speaking last month, head coach Neil Redfearn said: “He epitomises this level. I don’t think it’s a big surprise that a lot of Championship clubs wanted him.”
Other players released by Leeds today are goalkeepers Stuart Taylor and Alex Cairns and midfielders Michael Tonge and Zac Thompson.
Academy players Daniel Atkinson, Luke Booker and Afolabi Coker are also leaving.
Phillips, however, is considering the offer of a new contract having made his first-team debut last month. Walters also looks set to remain at Elland Road next season.
Six other academy players – Lewie Coyle, Tyler Denton, Eric Grimes, Luke Parkin, Alex Purver and Jake Skelton – are weighing up new deals.
Leeds have not indicated whether any of the seven players who were on-loan at Elland Road this season, including Sol Bamba and Adryan, will be returning to the club.
Players offered new contracts: Lewie Coyle, Tyler Denton, Eric Grimes, Luke Parkin, Kalvin Phillips, Alex Purver, Jake Skelton, Lewis Walters.
Players released: Daniel Atkinson, Rudy Austin, Luke Booker, Alex Cairns, Afolabi Coker, Stuart Taylor, Zac Thompson, Michael Tonge, Aidy White.
Scholars offered professional deals: Tom Lyman, Frank Mulhern, Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Scholars released: Isaac Assenso, Liam Bennett, Adam Berry, Piteu Crouz, Munya Mbanje, Ian Molloy.
Phil Hay
Rodolph Austin and Aidan White were the most high-profile casualties as Leeds United released nine players.
Austin and White have both been told they will not be handed new contracts when their current deals expire at the end of next month.
But United have offered contract extensions to Kalvin Phillips and Lewis Walters, easing fears that the two academy products might leave Elland Road this summer.
Austin’s exit brings to an end to his three-year stay at Leeds while White is quitting a club he first joined at the age of nine.
The left-back caused waves when he broke into United’s first team as a teenager in 2008 and he made a total of 111 appearances.
White, however, never established a settled position and the 23-year-old’s final season at Elland Road was largely written off by a broken foot bone.
Austin also amassed a century of appearances for Leeds and played regularly throughout the recent Championship term.
Leeds paid around £300,000 to sign him from SK Brann in 2012 but he will move on for nothing this summer.
Wigan Athletic tried and failed to sign the Jamaican international in January and Millwall, Brighton and Bolton Wanderers have all been linked with him in the past six months.
Speaking last month, head coach Neil Redfearn said: “He epitomises this level. I don’t think it’s a big surprise that a lot of Championship clubs wanted him.”
Other players released by Leeds today are goalkeepers Stuart Taylor and Alex Cairns and midfielders Michael Tonge and Zac Thompson.
Academy players Daniel Atkinson, Luke Booker and Afolabi Coker are also leaving.
Phillips, however, is considering the offer of a new contract having made his first-team debut last month. Walters also looks set to remain at Elland Road next season.
Six other academy players – Lewie Coyle, Tyler Denton, Eric Grimes, Luke Parkin, Alex Purver and Jake Skelton – are weighing up new deals.
Leeds have not indicated whether any of the seven players who were on-loan at Elland Road this season, including Sol Bamba and Adryan, will be returning to the club.
Players offered new contracts: Lewie Coyle, Tyler Denton, Eric Grimes, Luke Parkin, Kalvin Phillips, Alex Purver, Jake Skelton, Lewis Walters.
Players released: Daniel Atkinson, Rudy Austin, Luke Booker, Alex Cairns, Afolabi Coker, Stuart Taylor, Zac Thompson, Michael Tonge, Aidy White.
Scholars offered professional deals: Tom Lyman, Frank Mulhern, Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Scholars released: Isaac Assenso, Liam Bennett, Adam Berry, Piteu Crouz, Munya Mbanje, Ian Molloy.