Fans slam 'shocking' Elliott decision

Leicester City’s decision to make skipper Matt Elliott available on a free transfer has come in for criticism from the club’s supporters.

Elliott has been told he can leave the Foxes as part of a cost-cutting exercise which means that Dennis Wise and Tim Flowers can also depart for nothing.

But City Independent Supporters’ Association chairman Lance Tomlyn feels the decision to release Elliott could backfire as Leicester attempt to regain their Premiership status at the first attempt.

Tomlyn said: ‘‘News like this is shocking when you are aiming for promotion and wanting to bounce back immediately after being relegated.

‘‘You would have thought that Matt Elliott would be the rock that you would build the team around rather than put him on the transfer list.’’

Elliott has been a key performer for Leicester since he joined for a then club record fee of £1.6m (€2.5m) from Oxford five-and-a-half years ago.

But the Scotland international has been told by manager Micky Adams he has to go because the club need to make drastic reductions in their wage bill after losing their place in the top flight.

Elliott only signed a new four-year contract last summer shortly before the departure of the then manager Peter Taylor.