Soccer:After a season in which he has found himself increasingly sidelined by new manager Roberto Mancini, Manchester City's Stephen Ireland has decided his future lies away from Eastlands and handed in a transfer request.
Just 12 months after being voted the club’s player of the year, the former Republic of Ireland international clearly feels his face no longer fits at City.
Ireland, who played just one full match since the end of January following a series of injuries and a dramatic loss of form, has made no secret of his dissatisfaction under the Italian.
Earlier this month he voiced his “frustration” at the lack of first team opportunities presented to him since Mancini took charge.
Mancini responded by suggesting the volatile 23-year-old needed to “change his head” if he hoped to resurrect his career at City. Ireland, it would seem, is more inclined to change his club.