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RSL decline contract options on 4 players, including Findley

RobbieFindleyRSL2-AtlantaSilverbacksUSOpenCup (USATODAYSports)

Photo by Daniel Shirey/USA Today Sports

By DAN KARELL

Real Salt Lake will have a new No. 10 next season.

Real Salt Lake confirmed on Monday that they’ve declined the contractual options of four players; Robbie Findley, Aaron Maund, Rich Balchan, and Abdoulie Mansally. The club is in conversations with Mansally about bringing him back next year.

RSL general manager Garth Lagarway told the Salt Lake Tribune that the club has exercised contract options on every other player on the roster, save for out-of-contract players Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert, and Cole Grossman. Lagarway said that RSL has made a “bona-fide offer” to all three, which in case of any of the three leaving the league, will allow RSL to hold on to their rights indefinitely should they return to MLS.

If Borchers, Wingert, or Grossman reject the RSL offers, they’ll go into stage one of the MLS Re-Entry Draft.

The news of Findley leaving brings the end of his second stint at the club. Findley spent three and a half seasons with RSL from 2007-2010, scoring 33 times before moving to Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2010 season. After two years in England, Findley returned to MLS and was re-signed by RSL after they acquired his rights in a trade with the Portland Timbers.

His current time with RSL was not as successful, however. He recorded just nine goals and two assists over two seasons, including just one goal in the 2014 season in 16 appearances.

Maund, a former first-round draft pick, played only nine times over the past two seasons, while Balchan made only four appearances for RSL in the last two years, missing the entirety of the 2013 season with a dislocated shoulder.

Mansally played 32 times for RSL, mostly as a wing back, finishing with two assists.

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What do you think of this news? Where do you see Findley ending up next? Do you see RSL challenging next season for MLS Cup?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I could see Birchers getting picked up by kreis in NY. A team that just wants speed would get findley. I’m actually happy to see wingert moving on. He’s been good for RSL but his best years are behind him.

    Reply

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