It’s no deal, says Evina

Cedric Evina

CEDRIC Evina won't be back at Boundary Park next season . . . in an Athletic shirt.

The 19-year-old former Arsenal prospect has reportedly turned down the offer of a new contract to stay under the tutelage of Athletic boss Paul Dickov.

Operating at left-back and on the left wing, Evina impressed enough in his initial loan spell with Athletic from the Gunners last term to win a permanent six-month contract following his release by the Premier League club.

That deal ran out at the end of the season — and despite Athletic making an attempt to keep Evina, he is now searching for pastures new either in the south or in France, the country of his birth.

Athletic's npower League One rivals Leyton Orient are among clubs linked with a swoop for the player, with manager Russell Slade looking to build on last season's success which saw the O's finish only a point and one place outside the play-off positions.

Crawley Town, newly-promoted to League Two, are also said to be in the mix for a man who made 28 appearances for Athletic, scoring twice, including a derby strike against Rochdale at Spotland.

Recently, Evina was named in a provisional France under-20 squad for the summer Toulon tournament but failed to make the final cut.

This latest news leaves Reuben Hazell, Paul Black, Filipe Morais and Jean-Yves Mvoto as players known to have been offered contracts by Athletic without yet making a decision on whether to accept. 

* THE Football League AGM took place today in Cyprus and a salary cap for League One clubs was expected to be approved.
Backed by Athletic chiefs, it would mean that clubs can spend a maximum of 60-per-cent of their turnover on wages, as is already the case in League Two.

RICHARD Butcher died suddenly in bed due to a rare heart condition, an inquest has heard.
The 29-year-old former Athletic midfielder, who was playing for League Two club Macclesfield Town, suffered a cardiac arrhythmia — often referred to as sudden adult death syndrome — at his home in Swinton.

Butcher was discovered lifeless in his bed after he failed to report for training at Macclesfield on January 10.