Town boss Paul Jewell admits he was disappointed that former skipper Grant Leadbitter moved on to Saturday’s opponents Middlesbrough in the summer after turning down a new deal with the Blues, but says there’s no animosity between himself and the midfielder.

Jewell said: “We would have liked Grant to stay, but he was well within his rights to move on. There was no animosity between myself and him or the club. We wish him well.

“He’s moved on to different things and we’ve moved on as well. He’s a good player, Grant, but he’d been here three years and I think he felt he needed a change of scene.

“He’s from up north, so geographically [it suited him], he got married in the summer and it was a move that possibly was always going to be on the cards.

“We tried to keep him. I don’t think it was a money thing, being honest, it might have been that he wanted to change and obviously it was up north and both those things suited him. We were disappointed to lose him, but wish him well.”

Leadbitter, 26, has started every league game for Boro this season and scored on his debut, the Capital One Cup first round tie against Bury.

Photo: Action Images

airliner added 06:24 - Sep 14 `Good riddance mercenary player. We dont miss him at all ! IMHO
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Dissboyitfc added 06:52 - Sep 14 only started to really show in imo, when in the shop widow and looking for a contract elsewhere , next....coyb
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DiamondGezzer added 06:54 - Sep 14 Leadbitter to score ? That really would be a kick in the jolly old slabs ! Will probably play out of his skin tomorrow.
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Sindre94 added 07:27 - Sep 14 Leadbitter to score on a FK and assisting a goal with a cornerkick, imagine....
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Duncan added 07:32 - Sep 14 Leadbitter will play out of his skin - to have your own supporters nick name you LeadBoots has to hurt who ever you are so he will be out to prove a point. Let's hope it doesn't work out for him as he can be a game changer
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Sindre94 added 07:34 - Sep 14 excellent headline by the way!!
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ChrisFelix added 07:53 - Sep 14 at least i wont worry too much if he takes corners or penalties !!!
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ingyblue added 07:53 - Sep 14 Always thought the guy was a average/good player for us but nothing spectacular. Don't miss his terrible corners either! Hopefully keep him quiet tomorrow COYB
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itfc1981 added 07:53 - Sep 14 The ex-player we dont have to worry about scoring against us.
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WaltownBlueNaze added 10:41 - Sep 14 Very average player IMO - only started playing well towards end of last season when his contract was up. Poor value for money and was another poor signing by RK. Him moving on could be a blessing in disguise as it should give Hyam more game time.
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Dolly2.0 added 11:05 - Sep 14 I'm praying he's their corner taker
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Garv added 13:14 - Sep 14 In a way I was disappointed to see him leave, but then I remembered what he'd done for three years bar a couple of months while with us...next to nothing. Good player when he turned it on, but on the whole he was horribly average at Town. Still remember the worst pass I've ever seen played by Leadbitter at Peterborough into the path of now one of our own, Paul Taylor, who went on to score. To think, Leadbitter cost us £2.6m and we've got Taylor for £1.5m. I know a few people are doubting Taylor and think he is overpriced but he is a class act, just wait and see.

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Ipstones added 13:24 - Sep 14 Like me Murphy's im not bitter!!! Byeeee
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