West Ham release Stephen Hendrie: once wanted by Deila, and touted as Tierney replacement

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West Ham have terminated the contract of left back Stephen Hendrie.

Stephen Hendrie challenges Celtic’s Stefan Johansen

West Ham United have been shedding some of their dead wood this summer, and Stephen Hendrie is the latest player to be shown the exit door.

The Hammers not only chose not to follow up the loan spells of Gokhan Tore and Jonathan Calleri, but then released Alvaro Arbeloa and sold Havard Nordtveit to Hoffenheim.

Stephen Hendrie and Burton Albion’s Lucas Akins in action

Now, Slaven Bilic’s men have announced on their official website that left back Stephen Hendrie has been released from his contract, alongside goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel.

Hendrie, 22, penned a pre-contract agreement with West Ham in January 2015 before starting his career with the club months later, but his time with the Hammers has been far from successful.

The Scot leaves West Ham without ever having played a first-team game for the club, and has played just 13 first-team games – on loan at Southend or Blackburn – since signing from Hamilton Academical.

Stephen Hendrie

Hendrie will now look for a new club, but Celtic may secretly feel a little relieved to have missed out on Hendrie, having previously been targeted by former Bhoys boss Ronny Deila.

Goal claimed in December 2014 that Celtic and then-manager Deila were hoping to sign Hendrie despite Premier League interest, and they eventually did lose out to West Ham in the race for his signature.

Stephen Hendrie and Girona’s Miguel Cifuentes challenge for the ball

Then, just before Deila left Celtic, the Daily Record reported that Celtic were looking to land Hendrie if star left back Kieran Tierney left the club last summer. Tierney ended up staying, and Hendrie signed his loan deal with Blackburn – and a new move from the Bhoys looks unlikely after his West Ham contract was torn up.

A move back to Scotland or to a Football League club appears to be on the cards for Hendrie, who hasn’t been able to fulfil his potential shown at Hamilton. Yet, at just 22, he still has plenty of time to show just why Celtic and West Ham battled for his signature.