Rowdies release forward Barnett

Posted Mar 22, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Mar 22, 2010 at 08:41 PM

The FC Tampa Bay Rowdies have released forward Dwight Barnett, and will enter the season with Aaron Wheeler and Aaron King as their lead attacking options.

“Dwight is going to be a good player for somebody,” Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish said. “He’s got loads of pace, loads of power, but it’s a credit to how well Aaron Wheeler and Aaron King have done that we felt we were able to release Dwight.”

Dalglish added that he felt with Barnett’s age, 28, it wouldn’t have been fair to the striker to have him remain with the team with little opportunity for playing time, and as such it was in both parties best interests to part ways. Barnett did not get much playing time in the Rowdies first three preseason games, and did not play on Friday against the Philadelphia Union with King fulfilling the lone striker role after Wheeler was forced from the game with an injury.

Dalglish also added that while Wheeler and King will nominally be the only two forwards on the team, there are others who could step into the role should the need arise.

“Adam Nowland has played as a forward for a lot of his career, Long Tan played forward for the Chinese national team, so there’s plenty of options,” Dalglish said. “Just because they’re not written down on our roster as forwards doesn’t mean they can’t play there and although we only have two out-and-out strikers, there’s plently of other players who can play there.”

INJURY UPDATES: The news on Wheeler’s foot injury, as previously mentioned suffered on Friday against Philadelphia, was good, with Wheeler saying he had been told it was just a deep tissue bruise. He worked out at Saddlebrook on Monday morning, and should return to on-field action on Tuesday. Center back Yendry Diaz was also back at training after recovering from a groin strain.  Absent from Monday afternoon’s workouts were right back Jason Beardsley and midfielder Chad Burt, who reportedly had a fever.