Ex-Leeds United midfielder Simon Lenighan has contract terminated by Rotherham United after assault on woman

Lenighan, 21, only joined the Millers in late November but was suspended by the club the following week on December 4 after news broke that he had been spared jail after headbutting a girl on a drunken night out as he celebrated being found not guilty in a rape case.

Lenighan, who lives in Harrogate, pleaded guilty at Harrogate Magistrates Court to assaulting Leah Davey on February 27.

He also assaulted two of the woman’s friends after they had an altercation outside a nightclub in Harrogate in the early hours of the morning.

Lenighan escaped jail but was sentenced to a community order for 12 months, including 150 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay damages.

A Millers statement read: “Following an internal investigation in to the matters recently in the press and following the reported conduct of the player, Rotherham United can announce that it has terminated the contract of Simon Lenighan.

“The club will be making no further comment on this matter.”

Lenighan left Leeds last summer and has spent time with non-league sides Frickley and Harrogate before linking up with Rotherham - managed by his former youth team boss Neil Redfearn.