End of an era as Saunders leaves Brentford

Sam Saunders, Brentford’s longest-serving player, has joined Wycombe on a free transfer.

The popular midfielder spent seven-and-a-half years at Griffin Park, making 206 appearances in all competitions and scoring 30 goals.

However, 33-year-old Saunders has only started two Championship matches this season and has been allowed to move on for more regular first-team football.

Bees boss Dean Smith told the club’s website: “Sam has been frustrated that he has not been getting pitch time in recent weeks.

“He is coming to the latter stages of his career and he has to think of his future.

“We are sad to see him go as he has been a great servant to this football club, especially during my time here.”

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It will be Saunders’ second spell with Wycombe, having helped them to the League Two play-off final while on loan there in 2014-15.

He joined the Bees from Dagenham & Redbridge in the summer of 2009.

During his spell at Griffin Park, Saunders helped Brentford to the 2011 Football League Trophy final and then scored 12 goals and made almost as many assists during the 2011-12 season.

He played for the Bees in the League One play-off final defeat to Yeovil in 2013 and was part of the squad that won promotion to the Championship a year later.

A knee injury restricted Saunders to a handful of games in 2014-15, leading to his loan spell at Wycombe, when he was injured in the opening seconds of their play-off final defeat to Southend at Wembley.

Saunders was on the books of Charlton Athletic and Fulham as a youngster and moved around the non-League scene at Welling United, Ashford Town and Carshalton Athletic before being part of the Dagenham team that won promotion to the Football League in 2007.