Seven Released as Rebuilding Begins

Cheerio
By Chris O'Brien
May 30 2006

The club have confirmed that seven players will leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of June. Quinton Forune, Markus Neumayr, Mark Howard, Mads Timm, Eddie Johnson, Phillip Picken and Tommy Lee will all be available on free transfers over the summer months.

Manchester United have confirmed seven players will be given free transfers when their contracts expire on June 30th.

Quinton Fortune's exit was confirmed back in March, with Markus Neumayr, Mark Howard, Mads Timm, Eddie Johnson, Phillip Picken and Tommy Lee confirmed as other departures as the squad rebuilding process begins in earnest.

Neumayr's release will come as a surprise to those who have followed the United reserves over the season. The German winger has skippered United's second-string to a Treble-winning season. Rene Meulensteen's men triumphed in the North-West Division, the Reserve League Shield and the Manchester Senior Cup but that's not enough for their captain who leaves the club having failed to break into the first-team.

Striker Timm joined United from OB Odense some five years ago, but in that time the Danish youngster has made only one first-team appearance - appearing as a substitute in a severely weakened United side which was easily beaten by Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League. The 21-year-old has earned first-team experience in loan with Viking and Walsall, but the coaching staff at Old Trafford have decided the player needs to move on permanently.

Heavyweight Chester-born striker Eddie Johnson impressed on temporary spells with Coventry City and Crewe Alexandra, but his only senior appearance for United came in October 2003, as a substitute, when the Red Devils knocked rivals Leeds out of the League Cup. Oldham Athletic and Crewe have already been linked with the player's services, and he is unlikely to have problems in finding a new club in the North West.

Meanwhile, defender Phil Picken failed to register a senior-team appearance and will leave the club at the age of 20. League One outfit Chesterfield got the best out of the player during a season-long loan last term, and the Spireites are expected to renew their interest in the player immediately.

Lee and Howard are perhaps the least well-known players on the list, and both will be anxious to find new clubs over the summer having failed to live the dream with United. The club have also confirmed that third-year scholar Kyle Moran will be released after not being offered a professional contract.

Good luck to all players with their futures.