Tenderloins
12/01/2006, 12:54 PM
From the Sunderland site
"Colin Healy has chosen to leave Sunderland with his contract due to expire next week.
The midfielder, who has not played for more than two years because of injury problems, is back in his native Ireland as he considers his future.
It ends an ill-fated two-and-a-half-year stay at the Stadium of Light for the Irishman, but his ties with the club have not been completely severed.
Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has offered Healy the chance to return to Wearside as he continues along the road to fitness.
Healy was given a new deal last summer after his initial contract expired, with the club keen to help the former Celtic man after all his injury problems.
He was offered a year's contract, giving him time to get fully fit, but he requested to take the money over a shorter period of six months, with the knowledge that the contract would not be renewed unless he was up to speed.
After a break from the club last summer, Healy chose to activate the deal in July, over six months - meaning it expired in mid-January.
Healy is still short of fitness and has not played in a game situation, despite returning to the training pitch over Christmas. He is now considering his future.
McCarthy has offered the player the opportunity to return to the Stadium of Light, where he could work with the physios and train with a view to playing reserve games; but there would be no financial reward - at least not in the short term.
If Healy opts to take up the offer - and proves that he is fit enough to return to first-team football in the months ahead - there is a possibility of further talks.
Healy has been plagued by injury during his time at the Stadium of Light.
He broke his leg in December 2003, did it again when attempting a comeback nine months later and then needed a knee operation earlier this season.
McCarthy confirmed: "Colin's contract is up this week and he's gone home. He took a contract over and above what he had when his contract ran out in the summer.
"He took it for six months, on reduced terms, and that's up now.
"He can come back here, train, be a part of it and get himself fit. I would welcome him back.
"There would be no financial reward for that. It's down to him to come back and get himself fit. It's whether he wants to do it here, or do it somewhere else.
"I'm hoping he comes back here and trains with us but I'm not certain."
Healy's contract expires on January 16."
Sad to see, hopefully he can get himself back into some shape. Short term deal with Cork City?
"Colin Healy has chosen to leave Sunderland with his contract due to expire next week.
The midfielder, who has not played for more than two years because of injury problems, is back in his native Ireland as he considers his future.
It ends an ill-fated two-and-a-half-year stay at the Stadium of Light for the Irishman, but his ties with the club have not been completely severed.
Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has offered Healy the chance to return to Wearside as he continues along the road to fitness.
Healy was given a new deal last summer after his initial contract expired, with the club keen to help the former Celtic man after all his injury problems.
He was offered a year's contract, giving him time to get fully fit, but he requested to take the money over a shorter period of six months, with the knowledge that the contract would not be renewed unless he was up to speed.
After a break from the club last summer, Healy chose to activate the deal in July, over six months - meaning it expired in mid-January.
Healy is still short of fitness and has not played in a game situation, despite returning to the training pitch over Christmas. He is now considering his future.
McCarthy has offered the player the opportunity to return to the Stadium of Light, where he could work with the physios and train with a view to playing reserve games; but there would be no financial reward - at least not in the short term.
If Healy opts to take up the offer - and proves that he is fit enough to return to first-team football in the months ahead - there is a possibility of further talks.
Healy has been plagued by injury during his time at the Stadium of Light.
He broke his leg in December 2003, did it again when attempting a comeback nine months later and then needed a knee operation earlier this season.
McCarthy confirmed: "Colin's contract is up this week and he's gone home. He took a contract over and above what he had when his contract ran out in the summer.
"He took it for six months, on reduced terms, and that's up now.
"He can come back here, train, be a part of it and get himself fit. I would welcome him back.
"There would be no financial reward for that. It's down to him to come back and get himself fit. It's whether he wants to do it here, or do it somewhere else.
"I'm hoping he comes back here and trains with us but I'm not certain."
Healy's contract expires on January 16."
Sad to see, hopefully he can get himself back into some shape. Short term deal with Cork City?