Carsley one of four players released by Thorn

Last updated : 11 May 2011 By Covsupport News Service/RD

Andy Thorn will not be offering club captain Lee Carsley another contract and so the 37 year old will be leaving the club in the summer, but he won;t be alone.

Thorn had already told Michael Quirke before the last game of the season that he would not be offered a new deal, but yesterday it was announced that four more players would be leaving the club. Stephen O'Halloran, Michael McIndoe and Isaac Osbourne join Carsley in being released.

Thorn will embark on building his own team during the summer break, but he will have to do it on a shoestring budget ad the first and easiest way to raise funds is to reduce the wage bill and with five fewer players, Thorn should have a little money to use.

One player who will be offered a new deal is out of contract second choice goal keeper Danny Ireland. He has been offered a one year deal by Thorn.

Roy O'Donovan has another year left on his contract and so will be staying at the club unless there are any offers for the striker who has managed just 14 minutes of league football since rejoining the club last year.

Carsley was brought to Coventry by Aidy Boothroyd and made club captain soon after, but since he was injured, his place has been admirably filled by the much younger Sammy Clingan. It would be difficult for Thorn to play both Carsley and Clingan at the same time in the diamond formation he prefers and so he decided one of the players would have to go.

Paying tribute to Carsley Thorn said to the CT:"Lee has been a great pro to have about the place. He's had his injuries but he has been great around the lads and I am sure he won't be stuck for a new club."

It is believed that there are several options already available for Carsley and he is carefully considering them all.