Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil joined Ipswich Town on loan this week
Régis Le Bris has spoken of his respect for Dan Neil after the midfielder completed his departure from the club earlier this week.
Neil joined Ipswich Town on loan for the rest of the campaign, bringing him to the end of his contract at Sunderland. It ended an 18-year association with the club, in which his senior career brought 201 appearances and two promotions. Le Bris said Neil had been an absolutely vital player last season but also in how he helped a new-look squad settle this time around despite his own lack of game time.
Le Bris said he had spoken briefly with Neil following his departure and conveyed his respect for the contributions he made.
“Huge player and so for the club, for me as manager as well,” Le Bris said.
“The connection we had last season was absolutely perfect. The way we worked together, the way he managed the team as a captain and he was a key factor to manage the togetherness with Luke, probably those two players last season were really important for that topic. The journey is the journey and I think he's now in a new part of his professional life, you have to leave at times, but with respect and good memories.
“We spoke over text, about the pathway we had together. There’s a lot of respect. He did a good job and now it’s a new part of his life.”
Le Bris said the pair had maintained a good relationship with Neil despite his lack of minutes this season, and that he would have had no issues had the midfielder stayed at the club until the end of his contract.
‘As a manager, you have to do your job,” Le Bris said.
“So it's not difficult if the conversation is still open. Direct, clean, respectful, and that was the case with Dan.So it was tough because you say you won't be the captain, it will be Granit. He knows that the level is the level, and he fought until the end. His contract situation was the contract situation. So not solved one year before, and when you come into the final year of your contract, with this level of competition, you know that something will happen. So it was already... not the end of the story, but the direction [was set], I would say. And after that, the transfer window is the end.
“If Dan would have stayed with us until the end, for me, it was completely comfortable. It wasn't a problem. It was his decision now. Do I need to leave? Do I think that I need game time now, rather than staying on the bench with maybe some opportunities but not sure? He decided that it was better to leave, to play, to be involved in the core of the group. It wasn't the case with us, and we need to respect his decision.”
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Régis Le Bris on Dan Neil’s legacy at the club
Le Bris said Neil’s leadership at the club remained vital this season, and that it was a key part of his legacy as the baton passes to a new generation of players.
“Still part of the legacy and I think he did his job really well because he didn't play a lot and stayed really well-connected and involved in everything,” Le Bris said.
“He helped the others to grow and probably to take his place, which in this world is not often so it's really important to repeat that. Even if he wasn't our captain this season, he behaves like a captain. He helped the whole squad to settle in this league, which is really important.”
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