Two of Maidenhead United’s squad of 2019/20 have announced moves to new clubs following their respective departures from York Road in the summer.
Forwards James Akintunde and Danny Whitehall were confirmed as released by the Magpies at the beginning of July and will play their football in the Premier Divisions of Ireland and Scotland next season.
Akintunde has signed on for SSE Airtricity League Derry City while Whitehall joins Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock.
Akintunde should hit the ground running for Derry, the Irish football season runs across the summer and the Candystripes are already four games in while Whitehall has signed a six month contract with Killie.
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Derry are one of the larger clubs in the Irish League but have only won the League of Ireland twice since it was established in 1985, they are though a formidable cup side though with five FAI Cup wins and 11 League of Ireland Cup wins since 1988.
Speaking on the Derry website, manager Declan Devine said about signing Akintunde: “He’s the type of player we’ve been after- strong and direct and he has looked good since coming in. He’s here until the end of the season initially but if things go well over the next few weeks I’d be hopeful he’ll be here longer.”
As for Whitehall, the Magpies 2019/20 top goalscorer joins a club who tasted Europa League football last season after finishing 2018/19 in third place under the management of the current Scotland manager Steve Clarke.
Whitehall’s new boss Alex Dyer said on the Killie website: “I’ve watched him for quite a while when he was with Maidenhead. He scored a few goals there last season and he’s got an opportunity to step to the next level.
“I’ve signed him on a six-month contract to see how he goes and hopefully when he gets his chance, he’ll do good things for this football club.”
