Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray described the departure of defender Matthew Bates as a “natural parting of the ways.”
Bates, 25, had recently been training with Boro despite his latest contract expiring in June. He was still in the process of returning
to full fitness following a fifth cruciate ligament injury last season.
“It was almost a natural parting of the ways,” Mowbray told BBC Tees. “We’ve allowed him to get himself fit. He got injured under contract and the right thing to do was to allow Matthew full rehabilitation, all the nutrition that goes with it.
“We did have some discussions, I spoke to him, tried to gauge his thoughts, his plans and his ideas,” he added. “We had talks on a contract, and we were both quite a way apart, and ultimately the decision was made that Matthew would move on. We wish him well”
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