It's been reported that Whitbread has avoided a driving ban due to the 'hardship' of finding a new club. Article also refers to the fact that he earned 'anywhere between £4,000 and £7,000 per week.' This suggests to me that the reason he was released was more down to the fact that he is injury prone than money as the wage cap is roughly £15k. However, it could still be that there was effectively a glass roof above Whitbread that he couldn't break through as the club weren't willing to increase the wages of an injury prone player.