Released players and shirking tackles
By Chris Kirwan
June 2 2003
The PFA today published the names of 586 players who will be out of contract this summer and available on free transfers. Established internationals Keith Gillespie, Alen Boksic and Patrik Berger were amongst those released.
Everton took the decision to release George Pilkington, who featured in 20 reserve fixtures last season, and Steven Beck, David Carney, Martin Crowder, Franklyn Colbeck, and Robert Southern from the academy.
Chief executive of the PFA, Gordon Taylor, reflected:
“People are quick to talk about players' salaries but not as eager to look at the other side of it - the insecurity of the profession.
"The majority of players are on one or two-year contracts, particularly in the Football League, so are very insecure and vulnerable.”
Moyes has been left waiting to see if Kevin McLeod will return to the club. www.evertonfc.com report that the winger, who became a free agent on June 1, is yet to inform the club whether or not he will accept the offer of a one year extension. Michael Dunford stated:
“David Moyes would ideally like him to stay, but Kevin being a free agent can look at his options to see if his career is best placed somewhere else”.
Elsewhere, Man City have qualified for Europe after shirking their tackles. England were confirmed as winners of UEFA’s fair play league, so Keegan’s side were picked after finishing fifth in the Premier League’s own fair play league behind sides who had already qualified through their league placing. So maybe Moyes should have asked his players to avoid making tackles once they reached the 40 point mark, rather than pushing them to the brink of the UEFA Cup.