briantinnion will leave thefreekick.com by mutual consent at the end of the current season.
thefreekick.com confirmed on Thursday that Tinnion, 27, will leave at the end of his current contract in August, bringing to an end his three-and-a-half years at the online outfit.
Tinnion had said he was not expecting to get a new contract, with his current deal up at the end of the season. He criticised the side last month in a post in The Board Room, which was never published, and that appears to have ended any hope he may have had of earning a contract extension.
Tinnion’s outburst in The Board Room, which is the club’s own discussion forum, came after an 8-1 defeat to batchelors in which he featured.
Tinnion’s representative Flano met TFK chief executive Rocko at the 51 pub on Thursday to thrash out details of Tinnion’s severance, and the stunning news was then announced.
Following the announcement Tinnion, manager Rocko and chief executive Rocko all made statements of their own, with none of them mentioning any behind-the-scenes problems between the player and his club.
Tinnion said:
"It has been a great honour and privilege for me to play for thefreekick.com for over 3 years.
"During my time at the club I have been fortunate to play alongside some of the best players in astro football and in front of the best supporters in the world.
"At all times I have endeavoured to do my best for the management and the team.
"Whilst it is a sad day for me to leave such a great club and manager I believe that the time has now come for me to move on. After so many years, I will miss everyone at the club.
“I send my best wishes for the future to the management, players, staff and supporters of the club.”
Rocko (manager) said:
"briantinnion has been a fantastic servant for thefreekick.com.
"The best defender in the world of his generation, he is already one of the great figures in our club’s illustrious history.
“Brian has been central to the success of the club in the last three-and-a-half years and everyone at TFK wishes him well in the rest of his career and beyond.”
Rocko (chief executive) said:
"Brian has been a towering figure at the club for over a decade. His dedication, talent and leadership have been
qualities that have marked him out as one of the true greats.
“On behalf of everyone at the club, we wish him every success in his future career.”
TFK’s full statement read:
"thefreekick.com has today reached agreement with briantinnion for Brian to leave the club at the end of his current contract.
"The agreement allows Brian to sign a long term deal with another club to enable him to secure his playing career beyond what would have been the end of his contract at TFK in the summer.
"The club has offered Brian a testimonial in recognition of his three-and-a-half years at TFK.
“The club thanks Brian for his major contribution to the club during his years of service.”
It is thought Tinnion has signed a pre-contract agreement with the astro team of the New Tork Times forum, however, there has been no official announcement to date.
