DANNY Shittu has turned down the chance to join Turkish club Kayserispor after the World Cup finals.

The big centre-half is one of a handful of players who have been told by Owen Coyle that they can find another club after failing to break into his first-team plans last season.

Shittu flew out for talks last week in a bid to finalise the move before he goes to South Africa with Nigeria but it is understood he had reservations about moving his young family across the continent, and is now hoping for a move closer to the UK.

“We allowed Danny to go out to Turkey to talk to the club and see if he fancied it,” Coyle told The Bolton News.

“He spoke to them but it never got to the stage where talks developed club to club.

“In the end, he decided it wasn’t for him, so that’s where we are at with that one.”

Kayserispor were due to take Shittu on a free transfer, just two years after Gary Megson had brought him to the club for just over £2million.

The 29-year-old defender had also attracted interest from Bristol City and Newcastle United last season.

Coyle is hoping to shuffle his squad around this summer but only Gavin McCann is out of contract.

The likes of Shittu, Johan Elmander, Andy O’Brien, Riga, Jlloyd Samuel and Nicky Hunt are entering the final year of their current deals.

And, while the manager is adamant he will not force the issue with any player who wants to remain and fight for their place at the Reebok, each one has been given permission to explore their options.

“I have said to three or four of the lads that are in the final year of their contract – if they don’t think they will be getting the football they want next season, then it is fine by me if they look elsewhere,” Coyle confirmed.

“Danny falls into that category but I won’t be pushing anyone out of the door at this football club. It is not the way I operate.”

Currently, however, Coyle said he has had no interest from other clubs in any his squad, barring Shittu.

“I haven’t heard of a single one,” he said.

Meanwhile, young striker Danny Ward failed in his effort to get loan club Swindon Town into the Championship on Saturday.

The 18-year-old played 90 minutes for the Robins at Wembley but ended up on the losing side as Millwall’s Paul Robinson scored the only goal of the game.