Fulham have released striker Barry Hayles.
The Jamaican international, who spent six years at Craven Cottage, scored 57 goals in 214 games having signed from Bristol Rovers in 1998 for £2m. Hayles helped Fulham to the Division Two and Division One titles and was the club’s top scorer on their return to the top flight.
A disappointed Hayles accused Fulham’s hierarchy of ‘stringing him along’.
He told the Western Mail: “I was very upset with the way I was treated by the club. I don’t feel I was shown enough respect considering the loyalty and service I gave them. I’m also not happy that neither the manager Chris Coleman nor the director who was meant to be dealing with my contract spoke to me about things. I felt they were both just stringing me along.”
The 32 year-old scored five goals in 30 appearances as Fulham finished ninth in the Premiership this season, including a memorable double in a 3-0 win at Tottenham.