Veteran striker training with English seventh tier club after Hibs exit

Adam Le Fondre is looking for a new club after his Hibs departure.Adam Le Fondre is looking for a new club after his Hibs departure.
Adam Le Fondre is looking for a new club after his Hibs departure. | SNS Group
The former Reading ace spent just one season at Easter Road and is now on the search for a new club

Recently released Hibs forward Adam Le Fondre has confirmed on social media that he is now training with FC United of Manchester in the seventh tier of English football as he continues his search for a new club.

The 37-year-old attacker signed last summer on a free transfer after a hugely successful five-year stint in Australia with Sydney FC which saw him score 56 times in 97 appearances.

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Le Fondre scored just five goals in 29 appearances in his only season in Edinburgh as Hibs fell to a disappointing eighth place finish in the Scottish Premiership with both Lee Johnson and Nick Montgomery getting the sack during the season.

Despite the club’s poor finish the former Rotherham United, Reading and Bolton Wanderers striker claimed that he had a blast north of the border and thanked the Hibs faithful for their support, claiming that they are a club on the road to great things.

However, the striker also took the opportunity to reflect on some of the difficulties he faced in the capital and claimed that certain people in the Hibs hierarchy did not treat him with the respect he felt he deserved.

In a post on Instagram on 22 May, Le Fondre shared a picture of his final game in a Hibs shirt alongside his family with the caption: "I'd like to thank Brian McDermott and Lee Johnson for bringing me to the club and Nick Montgomery for [his] continued trust in my ability. I had a blast north of the border.

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“Thanks to the lads for welcoming me into the dressing room, really good bunch of people! Some weirdos mind (laughing emoji)

“Thanks to the medical and S&C staff for looking after me during a tough period for me being injured!

"Disappointed with how the season panned out and how certain people treated me, but that's for another day.

"Special thanks to the fans for making me feel very welcome, it's truly a special club and I believe they are on the road to great things.

“All the best Alfie”

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Le Fondre kicked off his career at local side Stockport County in 2004 and was given his first taste of first team action as the club suffered relegation from League One in 2005.

The forward remained around the first team for the next two seasons before making the switch to a Rochdale side chasing promotion. Le Fondre was among the best strikers in the division throughout his in Greater Manchester but it was his form after his move to Rotherham United in 2009 which began to catapult him up the English Football League.

After two incredible seasons in South Yorkshire, Le Fondre signed for Reading in 2011 and it was during his time in Berkshire where he tasted his first promotion as his 12 goals in 32 games fired the Royals into the Premier League. 

He remained a standout performer in his only season in England’s top-flight with 12 goals in 34 matches and continued to score goals for Reading in the Championship before tasting further success at Bolton after a failed spell at Cardiff City.

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Le Fondre went on to star for Sydney FC in Australia and Mumbai City in India and is now keen to extend his 20-year playing career. When quizzed about his future by a fan he tweeted: “I’m training with my mate @FCUnitedMcr at the minute until I get sorted.”

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