TODD Carney will be released by Salford Red Devils, the Super League club has just confirmed - and it appears he’s not leaving happily.

Carney was only on a one-year deal with the club, owned by Marwan Koukash, which just had its playoffs hopes ended in a 44-2 defeat to Leeds Rhinos in the Super 8s. After the match, coach Ian Watson confirmed that the former NRL bad boy would not be re-signed.

Carney fired back at a tweet put out by the club announcing the news, with the playmaker claiming he never wanted to leave and his exit was part of cost cutbacks.

🗣 However, Head Coach Ian Watson has confirmed Todd Carney will leave the club next season.



➡️ Full details tomorrow. — Salford Red Devils (@SalfordDevils) September 15, 2017

No I respected the team but the coach i never wanted to leave but the club asked me to leave to save money 🙄 — Todd Carney (@tcarney06) September 15, 2017

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Carney’s release will add to rumours that he may make an NRL comeback. The 31-year-old was sacked by the Cronulla Sharks, his third NRL club, in 2014 and has since played three years in Super League with Catalans Dragons and Salford.

Carney, a former Dally M Medal winner, told Wide World of Sports this week that he was desperate to finish his career in the NRL.

“I’ll trial for a contract - I’m ready to do whatever it takes,” he said. “I’ve been playing in England and France for the past few years but want to finish (my career) at home. My body is good and all I’m after is an opportunity.

“On grand final day, all the retiring players will be presented to the crowd. That sort of thing burns in my stomach - that is the sort of send off I am after.”

Todd Carney, while playing Super League for Catalans Dragons. Source: Getty Images

While Carney was a star during his NRL stint, playing Origin and Test football, he would likely be a role player if he made a comeback, according to current rep star Aaron Woods.

“There will always be better players than him at the club so I would love for him to be able to help the young guys coming through, give his experience to them,” Woods told NRL 360 recently, adding that any club keen to recruit Carney would first need to do careful research, given his lengthy history of off-field indiscretions.

“I would definitely have a chat with him. You would need to do your research behind him first but I would want to see where he is at. I would ask him why he wants to come to the club and what he can bring.”