DANNY SCHOFIELD will leave Town at the end of the season – of his own choosing.
After 10 years, the attacking midfielder who cost just £2,000 from non-league minnows Brodsworth had decided it’s time for a change.
And Doncaster-based Schofield, who will be 28 by the time his contract ends this summer, will do so with the backing – and thanks – of manager Andy Ritchie.
The announcement has been made now to allow the player (pictured) as much time as possible to secure a new deal elsewhere.
And Ritchie may consider allowing Schofield, who has made 28 appearances this season and was an unused sub at Gillingham on Saturday, to go out on loan. Schofield – who suffered personal tragedy in August, when his younger brother Luke died in his sleep aged 22 – was brought to Town from Northern Counties East League football at the start of the 1998-99 Division I (now Championship) season.
He made his debut in the goalless home draw with Crewe on the final day of that campaign and his most recent Town outing, as a substitute in the 3-1 FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Chelsea the Saturday before last, was his 285th.
He has scored 45 goals, just one of them coming this season, in the 4-1 League I defeat at Southend in December.
“Danny has asked to leave the club for personal reasons and because he wants a clean slate,” explained Ritchie.
“He has spoken with his family and come to the conclusion that it’s the best move for him, and we’ll do all we can to help.
“It’s not a transfer request, he just feels he needs a new challenge. We have circulated his name and he may go out on loan somewhere or get a permanent move at the end of the season.
“There are hard and fast timescales, so he will continue to train with us and we’ll see how it goes.
“He has been a fantastic servant and ambassador for the club. He’s a great lad and a great character and we are happy to support him any way we can.”
Schofield, who was the subject of a reported £50,000 bid from League I rivals Yeovil last close-season, is one of 16 out of 29 first-team squad members who will be out of contract at the end of this season.
The others are Lucas Akins, Mitchell Bailey, James Berrett, Andy Booth, Chris Brandon, Danny Broadbent, Matt Glennon, Aaron Hardy, Luke Malcher, Rob Page, Danny Racchi, Frank Sinclair, Joe Skarz, Alex Smithies and Matt Young.
