Walsall release Edi Sonko

The Gambia international, Edrissa Sonko, is set to leave his English League One side, Walsall FC, after the club’s decision not to offer him a new contract.

Sonko is among other batch of players who will not be retained by the Saddlers after their failure to gain promotion to the top flight.

The former Real de Banjul, Anderlecht, Roda JC and Xanthi Skoda winger’s exit comes as big surprise to Walsall faithfuls. The 28-year-old forward, who was named the January Player of the Month winner for League One, has also won Player of Match award on many occasions during his one year spell with Walsall.

Also not to be offered new contracts are Darren Wrack and Ian Roper who together amassed well over 600 appearances for the Saddlers in the last decade.

Michael Dobson, Tommy Mooney, Bertrand Bossu, David McDermott, Stefan Moore and Senegalese striker, Alassane N’Dour, have also made the exit list.

Walsall chief executive Roy Whalley thanked the departing players for their service and admitted that, as always at the end of a season, difficult decisions had been made.

“We would like to thank all those players for their hard work and effort,” Whalley said.

“Some difficult decisions have been made as we look to develop a squad capable of making further progress at this level and build on the foundations that have already been laid.”