Alan Quinn became the third Irish international midfielder in four days to part company with his club when the 24-year-old Dubliner was amongst the 13 players released by Sheffield Wednesday manager Chris Turner.
Derek Geary and Brian Barry Murphy were also told to look elsewhere for work next season by Turner, who said that he needed to "shake things up," after what was another disappointing campaign for the Hillsborough club.
Quinn is unlikely to struggle for a new club but after 180 appearances for Wednesday he said he was disappointed not to have been offered a new contract.
"I turned down a move to Coventry when they were a Premiership club and also to Sheffield United on deadline day this season," he said. "I felt I was very loyal to them (Sheffield Wednesday) and felt they might have given me a little back in return so I'm disappointed to be going like this."
Sheffield United are said to be still keen on the midfielder from Clondalkin, while there is also reported to be interest from Bristol City. It is possible that Quinn, expected to be included in Brian Kerr's squad - to be named tomorrow - for the four forthcoming friendly internationals, will move across the city over the next month or so. Geary, meanwhile, could move to Preston North End.
Drogheda United's hopes of progressing to the second phase of the Eircom League cup received a blow yesterday when the club was docked three points for playing a suspended player, Glen Lacey, in Monday evening's game against Dundalk. The deduction leaves United at the bottom of group eight.
Christian Chivu has been omitted from Romania's squad for the game in Dublin on May 27th after the Roma defender failed to shake off a muscle strain.
FOREIGN-BASED ROMANIAN PLAYERS (expected to play v Ireland): Bogdan Lobont (Ajax Amsterdam), Bogdan Stelea (Salamanca); Adrian Iencsi, Florin Soava (both Spartak Moskow), Flavius Stoican, Razvan Rat (both Shakhtar Donetsk), Cristian Dancia (Torpedo Moskow); Ovidiu Petre (Galatasaray), Florin Cernat (Dinamo Kiev); Adrian Mutu (Chelsea), Viorel Ganea (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Marius Niculae (Sporting Lisbon).
