Grayson's regret at Christie exit
Simon Grayson has expressed surprise and regret at Malcolm Christie's decision to walk out of Leeds United.
Christie left the Elland Road club yesterday after asking to be freed from his non-contract agreement with Leeds, and United manager Grayson admitted his sudden exit had blocked his plans to hold talks with the striker over a possible deal until the end of the season.
The 29-year-old agreed a pay-as-you-play contract at Elland Road towards the end of last year – a deal which earned him money every time he was named in Grayson's matchday squad – and he made a total of five first-team appearances for Leeds between his debut in November and his outing at Brighton earlier this month.
Christie's career has been blighted by injury and his time with United helped him to regain his match fitness, but he recently revealed his desire for a more secure contract having been without a professional club for almost two years. The former Derby County and Middlesbrough striker has not confirmed whether an offer from another club was behind his decision to move on.
Grayson said: "His contract situation was that he could give seven days' notice and, as a club, we could do that as well.
"Malcolm took that opportunity last week and I'm disappointed that we never got the chance to talk about extending his contract.
"He must have an opportunity to move to another club and I'd be surprised if he hasn't, and maybe he thought he might not figure too much here.
"It would have been nice to have given him the option to be here until the end of the season at least, but wherever he signs we wish him good luck because he's had two years of bad luck."
Christie scored his only goal for Leeds in the club's 3-1 win at Stockport County on December 28, but the recent loan signing of Lee Trundle from Bristol City has increased the competition for places in Grayson's squad.
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