Dundee United: Mark Wilson to leave club by mutual consent

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Mark WilsonImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Mark Wilson earned one cap for Scotland in 2011 against Northern Ireland in a friendly

Mark Wilson is leaving Dundee United after the remainder of his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

The 30-year-old full-back, who has one cap for Scotland, made more than 120 appearances for United over two spells.

Wilson told BBC Scotland: "Talks have been ongoing for a few weeks between myself and the manager.

"Today we decided to go our separate ways. A disappointing day to bring to an end my association with the club I started with."

Wilson said he was, however, "happy to kick on with my career" while admitting that he does not have another employer lined up.

The defender started his career at Tannadice and spent six years at the club before joining Celtic for £500,000 in 2006.

He spent six years at Celtic and, after a year at Bristol City, he returned to United in 2013, with his contract due to end in the summer.

Wilson was fined by the Tannadice club in October in relation to a disciplinary inquiry.

The full-back was present when Celtic's Lukasz Zaluska was allegedly assaulted in Glasgow.

Wilson later revealed he had helped the former United goalkeeper and he was not one of the men charged by police over the incident.

While he did not feel at liberty to go into details about why he had not made a single appearance for Jackie McNamara's side this season, he said: "Managers have their own point of view and you have to take it on the chin.

Image source, SNS
Image caption,

Mark Wilson has not been in Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara's plans this season

"The past few months have been very difficult.

"If I look back to the start of the season, I was carrying a foot injury at the tail end of last season.

"That needed a bit of surgery, but I missed the full pre-season and any player will tell you it is a big no-no and I was always playing catch up and I just couldn't work my way into the manager's plans.

"That was disappointing thing for me - being fit and ready to play most of the season but just not selected."

Meanwhile, United striker Ola Adeyemo has been invited to the Nigeria Under-23 team training camp.

The 19-year-old signed for the Tannadice club on a two-year contract as a free agent in summer of 2014 following a six-month spell at English League One club Leyton Orient.

Adeyemo was born in London but moved to Ireland, aged two, where he was involved in the national association's youth development programme before joining St Patrick's Athletic and then UCD Dublin.

His agent, Ladi Salami, told BBC Scotland: "Ola can play for Nigeria, England or Ireland. He is flying out tomorrow and this will be a great experience for him.

"There is a tournament coming up and they have told him he will be involved in that too.

"It will be good for his development at Dundee United."

Adeyemo has only made two first-team appearances for United, making his debut as a substitute against Kilmarnock in October and then coming on as a late replacement the following month against Motherwell.

"He is very happy at United and certainly not planning to leave," added Salami.

"He has another year there after this summer and is hoping to get regular first-team football at Tannadice."

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