Harte snubs former side in favour of new deal

Reading defender Ian Harte turned down interest from his former side Leeds United, in favour to sign a new deal with the Royals.

The 34-year old signed a one-year contract extension for Brian McDermott’s team on Wednesday and it has been revealed that Leeds United had stated an interest in their former defender if he wasn’t offered a new deal by the Royals. However, Harte politely rejected this in favour of a chance to play in the Premier League again.

Speaking to Jonny Fordham of the Reading Post, Harte said: “I got a phone call about 10 days ago saying they were interested. I love it down here and these have been the best two years of my career. It would be silly to leave such a fantastic club like Reading. I don`t say you can never go back as I`m sure that would be fine.’

Harte was a widely-appreciated player during his eight-year tenure at Elland Road, being regularly applauded every time he returns to Yorkshire. He played 213 games for the Whites, scoring an incredible 28 goals. The most memorable of those goals was in a Champions League quarter-final against Deportivo in 2001, where they were knocked out in the semi-final stage.