BertieWoostersDonsClub wrote:
Him dropping down to Tier 6 I guess justifies his limited opportunities here, and why he's not being retained.
But plenty of released players work their way back up the levels so good luck to him trying to be one of them.
Fair point, and it highlights the lack of progression we currently offer to youngsters. We tried to address it with an under 23’s. It was bit embarrassing as we could barely field a team and forfeited fixtures at times and disbanded after a season.
I hate to say it but it does seem as though we’re only offering that first year as a bit of a PR move to parents/agents of lads offered scholarships at 16 to show that they can get a pro deal at 18. So many are discarded after that first year. As an example, three years ago, Lewis Johnson was making great strides under RM. Change of manager and he’s out the picture. No loans, no further Pizza Cup appearances and then gets injured and that’s his time done. Or take Junior Gyamfi, offered a deal less than a year ago, now released. What was the thinking there? If you believe in a kid enough to offer them pro terms then at least see it through.
There is a positive in that we’re at least now trying to secure them loans but there’s nothing for them with us when they return. Again, is that policy solely to give them a chance of playing at a reasonable semi pro level when we inevitably release them or actually for their progression to being first team ready at the Dons? I would suggest the former.
We can point to all the ones that got away, and I get that it’s difficult for any lad to be first team ready at 19 or 20 after just a year or two with a pro contract, but what else are we supposed to do with the likes of BTA, Nombe for a couple of years while they mature? It needs addressing with a proper commitment to the ones we do sign, not “filling quotas” with two or three graduates every summer.