Amongst the list of players set to leave Elland Road when their contracts expire later this month is club captain and homegrown lad, Richard Naylor.

Now 34, Richard Naylor has spent the summer undertaking his UEFA B Coaching License leading many to suspect an announcement of his retirement was imminent as the centre-back looked towards life after football.

Today however, strong rumours have emerged linking the centre back with a move to Doncaster Rovers where he would try to help our Yorkshire rivals improve on a close relegation dodge last season.

Many Leeds United fans have been critical of Naylor’s performances over the last twelve months with the centre back looking fatigued and increasingly over-the-hill.

Arriving at the club on loan in 2009, Richard Naylor impressed the Elland Road faithful forming a formidable partnership with Sam Sodje. After signing permanently for the club at the end of the 2008-09 campaign, Naylor was appointed the new club captain.

It was a move universally welcomed by Leeds United fans as an old interview with Ian Westlake started to circulate revealing Naylor (or “Bam-Bam” as he was affectionately called) had a White Rose tattoo and regularly sang ‘Marching On Together’ in the showers during their time together at Ipswich.

Injuries were a common problem for the ageing defender, one of which forced him to miss the game in which Leeds United were promoted at the end of the 2009-10 season. Despite the injuries however, Naylor was a key figure in the promotion winning side and will always be remembered for his heroics at Old Trafford on the 3rd of January 2010 when Leeds knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup in the third round.

His final season at the club was by far his most disappointing. Often sidelined through injury, on the rare occasion he was fully fit he looked a shadow of his former self and was unable to help plug the gaping holes in Leeds United’s dismal defence.

Whatever the future has in store for Richard Naylor, whether he manages another season or two at Donny or whether he simply hangs up the boots and uses his experience to coach the next generation he will leave Elland Road with the best wishes of all the fans. A White through and through, Naylor’s part in our revival should never be overlooked.