Fleetwood Town opt against extending keeper's contract

The keeper came into the club last year following an injury sustained by summer signing Joel Coleman.

Coleman suffered a thigh injury in the Carabao Cup game against Wigan Athletic in early September and has been out injured since.

Initially, it was Alex Cairns who stepped into the breach with Leutwiler coming in as a back-up and being praised by then boss Joey Barton for his willingness to join the club.

Then, with Cairns falling out of favour at Highbury, it didn’t take too long before Leutwiler got his chance.

The 31-year-old kept five clean sheets in his first seven appearances for the Cod Army.

He established himself as the first choice keeper for most of his time at the club, eventually going on to make 18 appearances with the last of those being the draw at Crewe Alexandra on Boxing Day.

A club statement said: “Town have opted against extending his contract and would like to thank him for his service and wish him well for the future.”

The club opting against retaining Leutwiler should mean good news for Cairns, who will likely get his chance to start while Coleman still remains a little way from fitness.

It may also signal how close the latter is to making his return should he still be considered the first choice option at Highbury, but that will be for interim boss Simon Wiles to decide.

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