Leicester City

Leicester City
Veteran striker Dion Dublin has been offered a new contract by Leicester City, but six other established players have been released. Foxes boss Craig Levein has hailed the 36-year-old's leadership skills since he joined the club last summer. "I still see Dion as a striker and I told him that," Levein said. Nathan Blake, Nikos Dabizas, Scott Gemmill, Keith Gillespie, Ian Walker - all full internationals - have been released, as has Lilian Nalis. However, Levein confirmed that in addition to Dublin, would be offering young midfielder Stephen Dawson the chance to impress over the next 12 months. Others waiting to hear if they will play a part in the club's future are James Scowcroft, Lars Hirschfield and Jason Wilcox. Levein announced the overhaul of his squad ahead of City's final league game against Plymouth on Sunday and was keen to cite financial grounds for the clear-out. "It is no secret that we have to take a large chunk of the wage bill this summer and obviously the players who are earning high wages are the main ones to suffer." On his decision to retain Dublin, he added: "He is 36 and I don't expect him to be involved in 46 games next season. But I am not saying he is back-up. If he plays well, he will be involved. "He is also a big enough influence in the dressing room to be able to lift us. "He commands a lot of respect from the players, not just because of what he has done previously in his career, but also for what he has done since I have been here in the last six months." Dublin - who can also play in central defence - has made 41 appearances for the Foxes since his arrival last year and scored six goals.

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Scowcroft released by Foxes boss
Striker James Scowcroft will not be returning to Leicester next season. The 29-year-old, who has been on loan at Ipswich since February, will not be offered a new deal - making him the seventh player to be released by City. Boss Craig Levein has already told Ian Walker, Nikos Dabizas, Keith Gillespie, Scott Gemill, Nathan Blake and Lilian Nalis they will not get new contracts. Levein has yet to decide on the futures of Canadian international keeper Lars Hirschfeld and winger Jason Wilcox

Levein rues losing star players
Leicester City boss Craig Levein says he is disappointed he could not have offered new deals to several players. Scott Gemmill, Nathan Blake, Lilian Nalis, Keith Gillespie and Ian Walker are among those released. Levein told the Leicester Mercury: "That was the hardest thing I had to do and it is not the players' fault that they are earning high wages. "All the players I had to let go, in different circumstances, would have stayed, purely on football."

Douglas keeps Leicester waiting
Leicester City are still waiting to hear whether Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas is interested in a move - six weeks after approaching him. Foxes manager Craig Levein told BBC Sport that he is also hopeful of a deal to sign Momo Sylla after the Celtic utility man impressed on trial. "We've spoken to Rab and Celtic know all about our discussions," said Levein. "He's considering our offer. "There is no rush but obviously I'm hoping he will decide to join us." Scotland international Douglas is out of contract at the end of the season, but is still hopeful of being offered a new deal. "He's had his ups and downs, but Rab is an excellent keeper," added Levein. "He's vastly experienced and would not be fazed by playing in front of 30,000 fans for Leicester." Sylla has a year of his contract left but has been told he can leave Celtic. The Ivory Coast-born 28-year-old moved to the Scottish champions for £650,000 in 2001 after impressing in the St Johnstone defence. He has also played in midfield and attack under Martin O'Neill but made only nine appearances this season. Douglas, who moved to the Glasgow club from Dundee for £1.5m in 2000, has been in and out of the Celtic team this season. But the 33-year-old has won his international place back from club-mate David Marshall and Hearts' Craig Gordon.

Leicester call off move for Sturm
Slovenian international striker Jani Sturm will not be moving to Leicester this summer, as had been expected. The 23-year-old had been due to join the Foxes from ND Gorica after agreeing to move to the Walkers Stadium. However, he "failed a medical check on a long-standing groin problem," according to Leicester's website, and they will not be completing the deal. Boss Craig Levein has already begun shaking up his squad for next season by releasing seven players.

Dawson snubs Foxes contract offer
Leicester midfielder Stephen Dawson has turned down a new contract and left. The 19-year-old Irishman, who was a regular in the reserves but did not play for the first team, rejected the club's offer of reduced terms. Goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld, 26, who joined on a short-term deal from Dundee United in January and made one start, has been released by boss Craig Levein. Talks are continuing with veteran striker Dion Dublin and winger Jason Wilcox, who are also out of contract.

New Leicester contract for Wilcox
Leicester winger Jason Wilcox has agreed a new 12-month contract. Wilcox, 33, played only 15 games last season because of injury but boss Craig Levein said: "I am sure he will be an integral part of our squad next season. "He is a model professional and showed a lot of grit and determination. Retirement never crossed his mind. "Jason is the kind of player you want in the dressing room and I'll look forward to welcoming him back," Levein told the club's official website.

Foxes swoop for keeper Henderson
Leicester have signed Australian goalkeeper Paul Henderson. The 29-year-old has agreed a two-year contract at the Walkers Stadium after impressing Foxes boss Craig Levein during a short spell on trial. Henderson left League One Bradford earlier this month after failing to agree terms with the Bantams. The Sydney-born shot-stopper made 43 appearances for them last season but will now join up with fellow Aussies Patrick Kisnorbo and Danny Tiatto.

Wilcox ready to make Foxes impact
Fit-again Leicester veteran Jason Wilcox said he still feels he can make a valuable contribution for the Foxes. The 33-year-old winger returned in April after six months out with a cruciate ligament injury, and has been rewarded with a new one-year deal. "Last year was frustrating to say the least. I now look forward to getting back," he told the club's website. "I didn't really get much of a chance to impress the manager after I came back from my injury."

Foxes eyeing Inter Milan friendly
Leicester are lining up a pre-season home friendly against Inter Milan. City officials have been in talks with the Italian giants to set up a glamour game and hope they will be able to add it to their list of summer fixtures. If the Serie A club do agree, it will be another boost to the Foxes' preparations for next season. Scottish Premier League side Celtic have already been lined up to play at the Walkers Stadium on 19 July and City will also play two games in Norway.

Douglas set for Foxes decision
Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas is set to hold more talks with Leicester about a possible move to the Walkers Stadium. The Scotland international has already had preliminary discussions with Foxes boss and former Hearts head coach Craig Levein about coming down to England. Douglas, 33, who joined the Bhoys from Dundee in October 2000, will be out of contract at Parkhead this summer. He said: "I am going down to Leicester. I have spoken to Craig Levein and we will take it from there."

Sylla makes switch to Leicester
Leicester have signed Guinea international Momo Sylla from Celtic on a three-year deal. And Scotland goalkeeper Rab Douglas is expected to join him in the same direction after a medical on Thursday. The 28-year-old Sylla has been used in a host of positions but is hoping to play on the right wing next season. It is Foxes' manager Craig Levein's first close-season signing as he looks to build a team capable of returning to the Premiership. Levein had been tracking Sylla for some time and has been particularly impressed by the player's versatility. Sylla moved from St Johnstone, where he impressed as a full-back, to Celtic for £650,000 in 2001 and still had a year of his contract to run. But Celtic allowed the Ivory Coast-born player to leave after he made just nine appearances this season. He made only 37 starts in four years with the Glasgow club and was used in defence, midfield and attack. Departing Celtic manager Martin O'Neill revealed that one of his final acts as Celtic manager was to clear out a number of want-away players before the arrival of Gordon Strachan. "Momo's going to Leicester and it's a move I know he's looking forward to because it should give him a fresh start," he said. "There have obviously been a few issues like that which the players themselves have been keen to resolve as soon as possible and, while it wouldn't be fair to name the individuals, it's been something I've tried to have a look at before going. "Obviously it's all been done very much in tandem with Gordon, but I did think it would be beneficial for him if we could clear the decks a little by sorting out one or two of these things so he can concentrate on other matters." Levein told BBC Sport that he is 75% certain of signing Douglas, who pulled out of the Scotland squad this week because of injury and is due in Leicester for contract negotiations. Douglas admitted, after Saturday's Scottish Cup final victory, that his Celtic career was over.

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