CBC-Sports

Carl Robinson deserved a proper send-off from TFC

March 8, 2010 03:29 PM | Posted by   John Molinaro  

And then there was one.

Toronto FC's decision to release veteran Welsh midfielder Carl Robinson means that there is only one player, captain Jim Brennan, remaining with the Reds who played in the team's very first game against Chivas USA in April of 2007.

Robinson is currently on trial in New York where he hopes to earn a contract with the Red Bulls. If he does catch on in the Big Apple, Toronto will receive compensation (in the form of draft picks) but would still be on the line to pay a portion of his salary for the upcoming season.

Salary cap reasons

Toronto coach Preki confirmed Robinson's departure from the club on Monday, telling the team's official website that salary cap reasons led to the decision to cut him loose.

Preki also said that Robinson had "already made up his mind that he wasn't coming back here," a statement that seems to suggest there were hard feelings between player and management behind the scenes.

Whatever the reasons for his departure, and whatever your opinion of his traits as a player may be (and it has to be said the Welshman divided opinion amongst fans) there's no denying that Robinson was a loyal club servant during his three years at the club.

The Welshman was twice named the team’s season MVP, in 2007 and 2008, and won the admiration and respect of teammates and fans alike for his commitment, strength of character and the consistent level of his performances.

He also played a significant role in helping mentor the team’s young players, including Maurice Edu (who was named the league’s rookie of the year in 2007 before being sold to Scottish club Glasgow Rangers the following year) and fellow midfielder Sam Cronin.

Despite fielding lucrative offers from English Championship teams after the 2009 MLS season, Robinson agreed to a pay cut and signed a two-year extension with Toronto, another sign of his loyalty.

Statistically speaking, he wasn't the greatest player - Robinson scored just three goals in 74 games (73 as a starter) during his three seasons in Toronto.

But he was viewed as one the team’s leaders, both on and off the field, and as someone who has covered the team since Day 1, I can attest to the fact the no player was more respected inside the TFC locker-room than Robinson.

Unfortunately, there are no statistical categories to measure such qualities.

Robinson deserved better

It's unfortunate, but perhaps not all that surprising, that Robinson wasn't given a proper send-off by Toronto FC. There remains a bitter taste in a lot of fans' mouth over the club's handling of Danny Dichio's retirement last season and how the club failed to honour and properly say goodbye to the Englishman.

Pushing people out the door, especially a player such as Robinson who bled for the cause, will come back to haunt the team.

TFC's shoddy treatment of its beloved players hasn't gone unnoticed and it's only a matter of time before other players around the league and the team's loyal fans turn their backs on the club.

Follow John F. Molinaro on Twitter.

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