Departure For Yoshiyuki

Ardija skipper Yoshiyuki Kobayashi has left the club on loan for J1 rivals Kashiwa Reysol. He has signed for the Sun Kings until the end of January 2010, having moved to Omiya prior to the 2006 campaign. Rumours have recently been circulating that Kobayashi had fallen out with coach Jang Wae Ryong, whose style demands flexibility from the players and that they be able to fulfil more than one role as circumstances demand.

Yoshiyuki picked up a serious injury in the latter stages of 2008, which may also have limited his contribution this year: he has played in just five league matches in 2009, making a total of 91 J1 appearances in a Squirrels shirt, with ten goals. His most memorable moment as an Ardija player was undoubtedly a year ago at Kawasaki Frontale, when he lashed home a free kick from inside the Omiya half of the field to complete a sensational 3-2 victory. But this year, the change of coach and corresponding change to a more dynamic brand of football means that the 31-year-old Kobayashi has been surplus to requirements.

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