Bristol City terminate Basso contract
Bristol City have called time on Adriano Basso's Ashton Gate career.
The out-of-favour goalkeeper is now a free agent after Bristol City FC terminated his contract last night.
Transfer-listed since before the start of the season, the 34-year-old Brazilian, whose contract was due to expire in June, is now free to find another club.
City's decision ends a long-running saga which has affected management, players and supporters for the last six months.
Robins boss Gary Johnson declined to comment on the decision to release the South American, but club chairman Steve Lansdown paid tribute to Basso, who joined City in 2005 and helped them win promotion to the Championship in 2007 and reach the play-off final 12 months later.
He said: "Adriano has been a great servant to the club over the past few years and was a key part of our promotion in 2007.
"I'd like to place on record my thanks to Adriano and wish him well for the future."
Basso, who has not played for City since September and turned down a move to Exeter City in January, issued his own statement.
A devout Christian, he said: "Life is all about making somebody's life better, having a purpose and knowing how to achieve it.
"God has given a purpose to my life. So when I came to Bristol City I came to fulfil this purpose, to do something different, do something better, add value to the club, the team to the supporters.
"This was possible because someone (City chief scout Pete Johnson) believed in me.
"I'm very grateful to the manager, Gary Johnson, and his assistant, Keith Millen, who gave me the opportunity to show who I am as a player and as a person."
He added: "I would like to show my gratitude to the chairman, Steve Lansdown, president Marina Dolman and my goal-keeping coach, Stuart Naylor.
"I would also like to thank my fellow players and colleagues, who added extra value to my life."
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by Neil, Bristol
Sunday, March 07 2010, 8:15AM
“The results this season do not read well. Should BCFC not have a topflight team what will be the point of a new stadium? 'Ace the bases'. Get the team then the stadium. I doubt if these results are fitting at all well with Mr Landsdowns business plan or PR campaign at all!!”
by Phil, Bristol
Saturday, March 06 2010, 9:49PM
“jamie, olde city
Quite possibly one of the stupidest comments I've ever read.
You just need to read his statement to see how he felt about this club, plus the comments from Steve Lansdown, How often does a club chairman praise a player leaving the club? Bar Murray/Tinnion I don't think I've ever seen it in my time.
As for Gary Johnson's view on it, it was a FIRM No comment.
Says everything. Basso is a man of respect and values. Johnson can't even publically comment on the good previous work by a VITAL player on and off the field in a key time in his mangement spell at Bristol City.
Basso has come out of this without alot of respect, Johnson continues to look like a bitter and twisted little man.”
by jamie, olde city
Saturday, March 06 2010, 8:57PM
“What a load of tosh Basso took the P~~s out of us and although he was a very good stopper remember the games he went off so say injured..Plymouth, and Charlton he was pathetic. He is not a person who cares about others he is a person who cares about himself. he is a waster.”
by Phil, Bristol
Saturday, March 06 2010, 8:26PM
“Missed him today and the defence have missed him all season, Nothing against Gerken, but he doesn't have the command/respect or experince of Basso.
as for Keef....you clearly have np clue of the fall out between Gary Johnson (much like what happens with MANY a past and present player at the gate)
Basso is rightly upset that he wasn't advised by the club by the Offer a couple of seasons back from then Premier League Middlesboro, the club have since denied there was any interest in Basso and despite the 3 offers for him in Jan only the Exeter offer was made public by the liar that is Gary Johnson, much like what happened in the previous season with Noble and the Palace offer.
How do I know this, anyone with the right contact within the dressing room knows this, but Johnson runs a tight ship and only the information he wants to come out of the club comes out through public channels.
Johnson's long ago lost the respect of the dressing room, senior players and his captain, however unfortunately the Chairman still believes in him.
Like Gary Johnson....Keef.... you don't know what your doing!”
by andy cappel, Ipswich
Saturday, March 06 2010, 6:30PM
“Keef ..
Looks like you r in the dark..
obviously you are not in the Robins circle of friends
Who s the next player to fall out with Johnson.. (or could it be Johnson who goes!!!)Watch this space...”
by Tim Richards, Emersons Green
Saturday, March 06 2010, 6:11PM
“Seeing as City are haemorrhaging goals (6 vs Cardiff, another 5 today), maybe they should have seond thoughts about getting shot of Basso?”
by Keef, ,
Saturday, March 06 2010, 5:46PM
“Higher league clubs expressed an interest in Basso, however Johnson only went public on the Exeter offer (who could have had him for free) this is despite similar offers from West Ham and Leicester.
Phil, how do you know this? tell us all.”
by Keef, ,
Saturday, March 06 2010, 5:27PM
“keef.. No my friend ,you don't even know what went on in the dressing room.
And you do,,,give me a break.”
by andy cappel, ipswich
Saturday, March 06 2010, 4:20PM
“keef.. No my friend ,you don't even know what went on in the dressing room.
Like Phil says he could have gone to West Ham, He was a good goalee for City.Like others before him he fell out with the manager.!!!
Notice it was Lansdown who praised the guy not Johnson”
by Keef, ,
Saturday, March 06 2010, 2:05PM
“Phil, you my friend are talking out of your rear end.”