July 13 2006

Tony Popovic

TONY POPOVIC has been released by Crystal Palace manager Peter Taylor.

The defender was told to look for a new club after returning from Australia's World Cup campaign earlier this month.

POPOVIC, who joined from Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2001, was in talks about extending his current contract.

But after a season beset by injury troubles, Taylor opted not to renew the 33-year-old's contract.

Taylor said: "TONY's been released. He's out of contract and I know he has been in talks, but in the end I decided to allow the release."