WALDWICK, N.J. – The Red Bulls are planning for the 2011 season without central defender Andrew Boyens, who has been with the club since 2008.
Boyens, who was part of the New Zealand squad during last summer’s World Cup, has not been with the team for the start of preseason training.
“He’s not in our plans right now,” Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe told MLSsoccer.com on Friday.
The 6-foot-4 defender played limited minutes last season, logging most of his time on the field in reserve matches, the US Open Cup and in friendly matches, such as the Barclays New York Challenge last July.
“He was offered a contract to come back,” Backe said. “Time went on and he didn’t respond.”
Boyens was a first-round pick in 2007 for Toronto FC, coming off a collegiate career where he was named an All-American at New Mexico.
Kristian R. Dyer can be reached at KristianRDyer@yahoo.com and followed at twitter.com/KristianRDyer
