“In all honesty” – Former Leeds defender blasts club for ‘staggering’ contract situation

“Football is like that. One day you are here, another day you are there. But this is the topic that I’ve been discussing with myself since we got relegated,” the 28-year-old said. “Obviously, I could have done the same [as others who left], I could have gone away.

“I have my options, I think everyone knows, it’s not a thing that I can hide. I had my options and I could go away, but as you say, my family is settled here. We are doing really good at the moment, but we don’t know what the future will say for me.”

Junior Firpo: Newsome blasts Leeds for ‘staggering’ situation

That such an important player’s contract has been allowed to run so low will be a huge source of frustration to Leeds supporters.

Former Whites defender Newsome has branded the situation ‘staggering’, highlighting both the on-pitch quality and transfer value Firpo brings.

“In all honesty, I’m absolutely amazed that the football club allow any players to get into the final year of their contract,” the BBC pundit said (via MOT Leeds News).

“Even if in the summer things change, the club get promotion to the Premier League, is he a Premier League footballer, is he one that you want to keep?

“If the club don’t get promotion, and financial restraints mean that he’s on too big a wage – at least you can offload him for money, so I find it absolutely staggering.”