Former Derby County ace Joe Ledley has been released from Newport County following their League Two playoff final defeat to Morecombe, the club’s official website confirm.
Ledley spent 18 months at Derby after joining the Rams in 2017.
Derby originally signed the Welshman to bolster numbers. But he then formed a partnership alongside Tom Huddlestone under manager Gary Rowett.
Ledley was a rock in midfield and helped the Rams reach the 2017-18 playoffs.
The former Cardiff City man, however, fell out of favour under Rowett’s successor Frank Lampard. He left Pride Park by mutual consent during the 2018-19 campaign.
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Ledley later joined Charlton Athletic, making just one appearance, before moving to Australia in early 2020 with Newcastle Jets but his time down under was short-lived.
The 34-year-old returned to the UK and joined Welsh side Newport in March.
Newport seeked promotion to League One, but Michael Flynn’s side fell at the last hurdle as The Exiles lost 1-0 to Morecombe at Wembley in the playoff final.
Newport have since posted their retained list and Ledley was among those released. He made four League Two appearances for the club, with his last coming in April.
It remains to be seen whether the former Derby man will now hang up his boots.
Ledley and Tom Huddlestone are both without a club, and they could be joined by another Rowett signing Curtis Davies as his contract at Pride Park expires this summer.
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