PAUL JEWELL has confirmed that keeper Brian Murphy has rejected the offer of a new contract and has therefore left the club.

PAUL JEWELL has confirmed that keeper Brian Murphy has rejected the offer of a new contract and has therefore left the club.

Murphy was left out of this afternoon’s 18-man squad for the final game of the season at Leicester City, which Town lost 4-2.

The Irishman had broken his ankle before Christmas, and although now fully-fit, never made an appearance under Jewell.

“Brian has rejected the contract offer and so has left, but Colin Healy has signed,” revealed Jewell.

Midfielder Healy featured in today’s disappointing end to the season at the Walkers Stadium.

Leicester were coasting 3-0 at half-time, through goals from Andy King, Yakubu and Yuki Abe.

Two goals in quick succession from Grant Leadbitter (penalty) and Connor Wickham briefly threatened a Town rally on 67 and 71 minutes, only for Diomansy Kamara to seal City’s win with the fourth.

Jewell said: “This game summed up our season. We had three good chances that we didn’t take in the first half.

“We then got back into it with those two goals, but again showed our soft under-belly by conceding a soft fourth. That was their only real attack of the second half.”

Jewell refused to comment on reports that goalkeeping coach James Hollman had left the club.