Lee Naylor is back in football at Accrington Stanley after over a year out of the game.
The left-back enjoyed a purple patch at Celtic under Gordon Strachan but left the club on a free transfer when Neil Lennon took over from Tony Mowbray.
After two seasons at Cardiff City he found himself completely out of the game last season before impressing James Beattie enough to get a contract offer from Accrington.
“I found it very weird,” he admitted about his exile. “It was a new experience for me, I’d never been out of contract before.
“It’s horrific. I know there are a lot of people unemployed at the moment. I’ve never been without a club and to be without a club for 16 months, watching the results coming in every weekend, is not a nice feeling. I don’t want it again.”
After being released by Cardiff Naylor returned to Wolverhampton where he trained with his home town club without being offered a deal.
“I try and look at the positives and I got a good year of family time,” he added. “I had a new baby and I was a full-time dad but I never stopped working hard or training, because you can join a club at the drop of a hat, so I never gave anything up.”
Naylor has made nine appearances for Accrington since his debut away to Rochdale at the end of September.
Accringtom are currently third bottom of League Two but have won three and drawn three of their last six league fixtures.
Earlier in the season they knocked Middlesbrough out of the Capital One Cup at the Riverside Stadium.
I don’t think he was that s***e he couldn’t get a decent contract offer. I know his Celtic days were a few years ago but he has good experience. it’s hard to believe no one was interested in him.
Always thought Lee gave his all when he played for us. Stepped up with a few important goals. Wish him all the best and hopefully he enjoyed his time at the Hoops.
Always handy to get those tricky throw-ins up against a corner into the box.
All the best Lee.
HH