Diamond goes as Latics cut costs

ZANDER DIAMOND: reduced wages in his new contract offer.

ATHLETIC are already hunting TWO new defenders for next year, with the news that Zander Diamond has left the club by mutual consent.

The former Aberdeen defender (27) was understood to be on the verge of triggering a clause granting him a second season at Boundary Park on the same terms, should he have played another game for the club.

The Scot's last appearance was in the 1-0 defeat at Stevenage seven weeks ago, when he retired early with a thigh injury. He played 23 times in npower League One during an injury-disrupted stay.

The decision was made recently to see the year out using central defensive trio of loan man Reece Brown, Jean-Yves Mvoto and James Tarkowski, to prevent Diamond's clause being invoked.

The former Scotland under-21 captain was offered a fresh deal on less money for next season but has now moved on.

"He has been great for us, on and off the pitch, and if he hadn't had the injuries he has suffered from then it may have turned out differently," said manager Paul Dickov.

Diamond joins Paul Black out of what could be a busy revolving door at Boundary Park, after the decision was taken late last week not to offer the left-back a new contract.

Shefki Kuqi could be back in the squad for Saturday's final league game of the season at home to play-offs chasing Carlisle.

The 35-year-old striker is currently in Finland to be with his father, who is unwell, and missed the goalless draw at Bury.





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