Cliftonville withdraw Liam Boyce contract offer

Liam Boyce has been in prolific form for Cliftonville in recent seasons

Liam Boyce looks set to leave champions Cliftonville after a new contract offer to the striker was withdrawn.

The Solitude club say that an agreed deadline for Boyce to respond to the new deal, which was tabled on 14 May, has not been met.

They further allege that requests by boss Tommy Breslin to discuss the matter this week have been "rebuffed".

"I have decided to withdraw our offer and begin to explore other avenues to strengthen the squad," said Breslin.

The Reds, who have won back-to-back Irish League titles for the first time in their history, issued a statement in which they described their offer to Boyce as "significant".

The forward is known to be keen to secure a move to full-time football and is also reported to be the subject of interest from fellow Irish Premiership club Linfield and League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers.

"The club have had no reply, though an agreed deadline was set. We requested a further meeting this week and that offer to meet was refused," explained Breslin.

Boyce has formed a formidable partnership with strike partner Joe Gormley in recent years and his loss would come as a major blow to the north Belfast outfit.

The 23-year-old was recently called up to the Northern Ireland squad for the friendly internationals against Uruguay and Chile in south America.