The one player retained is Marc Pugh and he will be the oldest player in the youth squad next season, and will be in the third year of his scholarship. That is the last year in the scholarship system that allows two years plus an option of a third year.
Three other players in the same position have all been released. They are goalkeeper Michael Hale, central defender and captain Neal Trotman and left midfielder Tom Ince who had such a good first half during last week’s Youth Alliance Cup Final.
Three others had reached the end of their scholarships after winning an extra year. The club would have had to offer professional terms to them if they had been retained but all three have been released.
They are midfielders Joe Booth and Adam Jones along with striker Alex Taylor. Booth and Taylor have been regulars in the reserve and youth teams this season. Jones’ appearances have not been quite so often but he has fought back from a serious cruciate ligament injury in his first season and is looking at a number of offers he has already received.
I’ve watched the youth and reserve teams often during the time these lads have been at the Turf and would like to wish all of them every success and hope that they can all find themselves new clubs before the start of the 2005/06 season.