Austin on the move after Leeds offloads nine

LONDON (CMC):

Jamaica international Rodolph Austin is on the market for a new club after he was named among nine players being released by Championship side Leeds United yesterday.

The 29-year-old midfielder has racked up more than 100 appearances for the North England outfit in all competitions since joining them three years ago from Norwegian club SK Brann, for a fee of £300,000. He will leave on a free transfer in the summer.

"The club would like to thank all of the players moving on for their contributions here and wish them well for the future," a club statement said.

Austin has been at the centre of much transfer speculation in recent months, with Bolton, Millwall and Brighton all linked to the experienced Reggae Boy.

No surprise

Wigan Athletic, who will play in League One next season after suffering relegation earlier this month, had also attempted to sign Austin back in January.

Leeds head coach Neil Redfearn said recently he was not surprised by the attention Austin had attracted.

"He epitomises this level. I don't think it's a big surprise that a lot of Championship clubs wanted him," Redfearn said.

Austin scored 10 goals for Leeds during his stint at Elland Road, the last coming in February in a 3-2 defeat to Watford. He has scored three times this term.

Only last year, he skippered Jamaica to the capture of the Caribbean Football Union Caribbean Cup in Montego Bay, with victory over archrivals Trinidad and Tobago in the final.