Former Derby County defender Jason Shackell is set to leave Lincoln City before the end of his contract, as revealed by Lincolnshire Live.
The 36-year-old was an influential figure in their League Two title win this season and has been a regular during this campaign too. He missed the beginning of the campaign through suspension after his second red card of the season at the end of the last campaign, but quickly established himself as a key figure during the transitional period the Imps have faced.
He’s been a regular right up until the recent 4-3 defeat against Accrington Stanley, a game in which he scored at both ends and gave away a penalty which Stanley subsequently missed. After that game, manager Michael Appleton lashed out at his senior professionals, with fansite The Stacey West suggesting it was aimed at Shackell.
He’s not featured since and yesterday Appleton revealed Shackell wouldn’t play for the club again and the two parties were working out a settlement on his current deal.
“There isn’t a future [for Shackell]. There are discussions between the football club and his representatives [over his departure],” said Appleton in yesterday morning’s press conference.
“The discussion between myself and Shacks was very amicable, very honest and it’s an outcome which suits all parties.”
Shackell joined the Imps following his release by Derby County last season and has previously won promotion to the Premier League on three occasions, with Norwich, Wolves and Burnley.
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It seems that Shackell’s replacement is already at the LNER Stadium; Alan Sheehan is a left-sided defender who recently penned a short-term deal until the end of the season.
It’s a sad end for the 36-year-old former Derby man, who won plenty of fans last season for being instrumental in their title win.
Quite where he goes from here is unclear, but with League One games under his belt this season we wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing somewhere, even if it’s in League Two or the National League.
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