Silverbacks Re-sign Three Players.
“We are excited to be able reward these three players for their commitment to the club,” said head coach Jason Smith. “They will all play important roles as we continue to build a championship team.”
Hayes, 31, signed a contract extension keeping the 2007 All-League and USL-1 Defender of the Year selection with the club through the 2010 season. Last season Hayes made 34 appearances in all competitions, netting seven goals and five assists, earning him USL-1 Team of the Week honors four times.
In 2006 Hayes appeared 27 times for the Silverbacks, scoring twice and adding four assists. Hayes featured 28 times for the Silverbacks in 2005, providing three goals and four assists, earning USL-1 Team of the Week honors twice. In 2004 Hayes made 26 appearances for the Richmond Kickers, where he also played the 2002 season, before moving to the Rochester Raging Rhinos for the 2003 season. Hayes played with the Milwaukee Rampage in 2001 after a three-year stint in MLS, with Chicago in 2001, and DC United. He was drafted out of Wingate University by United in the third round (28th overall) of the 1999 MLS SuperDraft.
Kandji, 23, also signed a three-year extension, keeping the midfielder in the fold through 2010. Kandji made his professional debut on August 4 against Charleston. In 12 appearances he netted two goals, and was once named to the USL-1 Team of the Week. Kandji is a product of the Silverbacks U23 PDL side.
McIntosh’s contract extension will keep him with the club through the 2009 season. Last season was the 24-year-old goalkeeper’s first with the Silverbacks and second as a professional. He won the starting spot midway through the season, making a total of 23 appearances with a goal against average of 0.913 in all competitions with nine clean sheets. McIntosh began his professional career in MLS with D.C. United, where he featured in seven reserve games.
Hudson, Liendo released, Smith signs with Wilmington, Millwood on the market
The Silverbacks parted ways with defender Alvin Hudson, defender Luis Liendo, midfielder Josh Smith, and forward Machel Millwood.
Hudson and Liendo were released. Smith, who missed all of 2007 due to injury, was not resigned by the Silverbacks and signed with USL-2 Wilmington Hammerheads. Millwood opted not to re-sign with the club and is pursuing other options.
Hudson made nine appearances for the Silverbacks in 2007, his only season with the club. He played for the Minnesota Thunder in 2003 and the Milwaukee Rampage in 2002, and was a member of the Canadian Under-20 and Under-17 National teams.
Liendo featured 27 times for the Silverbacks in his only season with the club, producing three assists. He joined the Silverbacks from Serie C side Novara Calcio, where he spent three of his six seasons in Serie C. Capped 13 times for the Bolivian National Team, he played for Bolivar and The Strongest in the Bolivian First Division from 1998-2001. He began his professional career in Argentina in 1996 in the Boca Junior system.
Smith did not feature for the Silverback in 2007 due to a torn ACL. In 2006 he appeared 25 times, scoring twice and adding one assist, and was named to the USL Team of the Week twice. Smith made his professional debut for the Charleston Battery in 2004, and appeared 32 times in two seasons with the Battery. Smith signed with the USL-2 Wilmington Hammerheads for the 2008 season.
Millwood joined the Silverbacks midway through the 2005 season, making a total of 49 appearances for the club. In 2006 he netted a team-best six goals in 21 appearances. In 2005 he featured 10 times. Millwood came to Atlanta from the Syracuse Salty Dogs, where he played in 45 games in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, tallying 12 goals and six assists.