Cranie’s move to Leeds now hangs in balance

Cranie took the decision to miss United’s 3-1 win at Deepdale with he and Leeds still to agree a contract and Cranie reluctant to gamble his fitness so close to the start of the Football League season.

The 25-year-old, pictured above, has been a free agent since leaving Coventry City at the end of last season and he has battled patiently for a deal with Leeds, featuring repeatedly in friendlies and taking part in both the club’s pre-season tour of Devon and Cornwall and their match against Sandefjord in Norway last week.

Manager Neil Warnock, who has described Cranie as a “squad player”, planned to use him for the sixth game running at Preston but said he had no argument with Cranie’s concern about sustaining an injury which would affect his chances of finding a club before the new season starts.

Warnock planned to hold further talks with Cranie yesterday and said: “In fairness to him he can’t afford to get injured in a game like that. I understood his reasoning.

“It was his decision and I respected that. He didn’t want to risk getting injured so close to the start of the season and I couldn’t guarantee him a contract.”

Warnock was expecting to finalise the transfer of Billy Paynter to Doncaster Rovers today, ending Paynter’s unrewarding spell at Elland Road.

The striker trained with Doncaster towards the end of last week having failed to impress during a trial at Blackpool and he will part company with United after two years, 28 appearances and three goals.

Warnock said: “He should be going there today and we’ve had one or two other enquiries for players but there aren’t many more we want to move on.”

Leeds saw another fringe player leave last week when Andy O’Brien had his contract terminated ahead of a move to Vancouver Whitecaps and Warnock said: “I think that’s a good thing. I couldn’t see Andy in my plans.”

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