Club release Josip Skoko and Salomon Olembe

The club has confirmed that Australia and Cameroon midfielders Josip Skoko and Salomon Olembe have left the club after their contracts expired at the end of the season.

Josip Skoko, 32, was one of the longest serving players left at Latics, having originally arrived in late August of 2005 from Turkish side Gençlerbirli?i, at the beginning of the first Premier League season.

He struggled to make an impression that year, but in 2006-07, he played for the majority of the season in the heart of midfield. Last season, however, he made only 11 Premier League starts.

In total, he appeared 53 times in all competitions, 45 in the Premier League.

Steve Bruce said: "It's always sad saying goodbye to good pros. Josip is a quality player who has never given me one bit of trouble, has always given me everything when selected and we wish him all the best."

Bruce has revealed that should Skoko not immediately get fixed up with another club, he would welcome him to train with the Latics team in the pre-season to maintain his fitness.



Salomon Olembe, meanwhile, only signed a contract until the end of last season, and has hardly featured. He made just two starts in the Premier League, and came on a further six times from the bench. He also started in the FA Cup 3rd Round game at Sunderland.

Bruce said of the 27 year-old: "Again, I have no complaints about Salomon, who has always trained professionally and given me everything when called upon. We wish him all the best."

The club has also confirmed that young professionals Peter Moore and Russell Saunders have been released after their contracts expired. Neither made any first team appearances.

Peter Moore


Russell Saunders