McAuley departs for Leicester City

By Nathan Jackson
June 5 2006

Lincoln City's overrated defender, Gareth McAuley has finally left for his inevitable transfer to Leicester City. Often in the middle of making mistakes that lead to goals, the tall centre back moves to the Walkers Stadium after also being linked with moves to Hull City and Sunderland.

McAuley joined the Imps just under 2 years ago from Coleraine and had an impressive first season with the Imps, however, during the 2005/6 season, he decided to stop tackling and if you watch the highlights of all the games he played in which the opposition scored, he's often right there, within a tackle's length but doesn't even attempt to make a tackle. The latest case of these came in the playoffs. In the home leg against Grimsby, McAuley had a chance to just boot the ball clear, he passes it straight to the attacker and within 10 seconds, Grimsby have scored. Inevitably, this lacklusture defending cost the Imps promotion.

McAuley will make a quick return to Sincil Bank when Leicester City visit for a pre-season friend in late July.