Andrew Hughes has left the club to join Scunthorpe United, but Mike Grella’s loan move to Motherwell has fallen through on a technicality.
33 year-old has joined Scunthorpe on an 18-month contract, and the Lincolnshire mob have the option to extend this for a further season if they wish to do so. I presume he’s gone for free, as the official site doesn’t say anything about them paying a fee.
The hard-working player has been very popular with Leeds fans during his time with the club, not least because of his ability to play in several different positions, and his willingness to fit in anywhere he was required on the day. Despite his limitations I would have like to have seen him getting a go in his favoured holding midfield role this season, as he couldn’t have been any worse than Amdy Faye. In truth, he wasn’t really up to ‘Championship’ standard, but he’s probably good enough to get a game at Scunthorpe, as they slide ever further down the table.
Simon Grayson played tribute to him on the official site "Hughesy has been a big part of things here, going back to before I came to the club. He joined at what some would have considered a difficult time and he has been a great servant during his time with the club. The move to Scunthorpe offers him an opportunity to play regular football again, and on behalf of everyone at Leeds United, I would like to thank him for all his efforts and wish him all the very best at Scunthorpe."
Meanwhile, Mike Grella’s move north of the border has been prevented by the rule that prevents players turning out for more than two clubs in the same season, as he has already spent some time on loan at Carlisle. Leeds and Motherwell were under the impression that loan spells didn’t count, but the Scottish FA have refused to allow Grella to play for the ‘Well, as it’s a cross-border deal.
It all sounds a bit complicated, but Leeds are now looking for another English club where the American can enjoy first team football for the rest of the season. I like Grella, but he’s never struck me as being an out-and-out striker, as he never seems to get into the positions round the box that you’d expect from a natural goalscorer.
He’s got excellent technical ability, but I think he needs to play ‘in the hole’ behind a lone striker, or as an attacking midfield player. The Leeds squad already has plenty of options already in those positions, so it’s hard to see him making a breakthrough at Elland Road, but I hope it works out for him wherever he ends up.