Coventry City will say goodbye to their longest-serving player on Sunday when Richard Shaw is given the chance to kick his last ball for the club.
Apart from a well-supported testimonial against Celtic earlier this month, the veteran defender has not been seen in the Sky Blues first team since being made the scapegoat for Coventry's embarrassing derailment at Crewe in late March.
The Sky Blues' late push for promotion via the play-offs was effectively ended when they went three goals down to relegation-haunted Crewe inside 24 minutes - at which point Sky Blues boss Micky Adams hauled off Shaw.
Despite hints earlier that Shaw might have earned another year's extension to his contract, his public humiliation at Gresty Road signalled Adams' intentions. And the Coventry boss has now confirmed that, after ten and a half years at the club, Shaw will be allowed to move on.
"It is time for Richard to leave the football club," said Adams. "He is not a qualified coach and I don't know what avenues he wants to pursue. But he has done OK out of his testimonial and, from our point of view, we wish him well as he leaves."
Adams also insists that it is out of respect not sentiment that he has offered the 37-year-old fans' favourite the chance of a swansong by playing in tomorrow's campaign-closing final game against Cardiff City.
"It will be nice for him to get another standing ovation from the fans," said Adams. "I'm mindful of the fact that Richard Shaw will be involved in a Coventry City shirt for the last time, so he will play some part.
"That's not being sentimental, that's just paying him the respect that someone who has been ten years at the club deserves.
"Dennis Wise will also be involved and it could possibly be his last appearance as well, so hopefully the fans will appreciate what Wisey and Shawsy have done."
Wise could yet stay on a short-term pay-per-play contract, but, with his chief intention being to return to management in his 40th year, it would have to be an open-ended arrangement.
