Era Ends as Jones has Contract Cancelled

By Deadly Submarine
May 6 2005

One of Tranmere's longest serving players has had his contract with the club terminated at his own request. Gary Jones who is currently injured has asked the club to end his spell that has spanned a total of ten years over two separate spells during the 1990's and the 2000's.

In a week when John Achterberg, one of Tranmere's longest serving players signed a new two-year contract at the club, the longest serving of them all, Gary Jones has decided that his time at the club is over.

 

Despite his lack of first team action in recent years, Gary Jones will always be thought of as something of a legend at Tranmere during his two spells.  His first spell at Rovers began in 1993 and lasted until 2000 when he left to sign for Nottingham Forest after playing a part in Tranmere's run to the Worthington Cup Final that year.

 

He was involved in many of Rovers great Cup Giant Killings of the late 1990’s and during his last set of regular first-team appearances, contributed to Rovers’ fantastic 18-game unbeaten run at the end of the 2002-03 season that saw them miss out on the play-offs despite scoring 80 points.

 

It would be fair to say that Gary's versatility in being able to play in either defence, midfield or attack may have ultimately resulted in him not holding down a regular first-team place in recent years, particularly under the management of Brian Little.

 

Jones who turns 30 next Tuesday, has been injured for number of weeks with a broken spur in his toe and saw it unlikely that he would feature again for Rovers this season.  He therefore requested that his contract at the club be terminated.  His last goal for Rovers was their third in a 4-1 win over Torquay back in January of this year and his last appearance came as a substitute in the 3-1 home defeat against Hull City at the beginning of March, shortly before he sustained the injury that still keeps him of action out currently.

 

Total Tranmere would like to thank Gary for the memories and wish him all the best for the future, either inside or outside the world of football.

 

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