We are suppose to be bringing in lower league players to develop them, so George Williams jumps how many leagues and slots nicely into the team playing well on both sides of the central defenders in his first season int Football league. So is that it is he all developed out after one season, reached his peak so to speak. Cant for the life of me understand this deciision.
it is a strange one, i can only assume that we have players ready to come in who are championship quality already, and we know from his dad that all he wants to do is play regular. by championship quality i mean either able to take the next step, or already playing there. obviously George was deemed able to move up to league 1, but not make the much bigger step up to championship.
I liked George and he did a great job last season, and integral part of our success. I can only think they need to have a smaller squad and need every wage bill available to bring championship players in. We now have Yiadom and Bree who can play that position and George at LBU in the champ might be seen as a step too far. Good luck to the lad I'm sure he will get the package and first team place in any L1 side next season.
The absolute key to this type of recruitment working and being a success is also getting financial reward for developing players. To sign a non-league player, playing below the Conference, and help him develop into a top League One defender would net most clubs a few hundred grand. We need to ensure we start to make profits on players to allow the whole thing to work. I'm not talking about G Williams inparticular here, but in general. I know every case is different and for example I think there's a chance we'll see Winnall and/or Hourihane see out their deals and leave on frees. I'm sure the 'if they want to go so we've no choice' line will come out and I agree with that sentiment. But a club like ours needs to get market value for players. Selling at the right time is an unpleasant but necessary part of the type of recruitment we have chosen to pursue.
Read the thread where George's dad posted. We offered him a contract on equal terms to his current deal, but couldn't promise that he'd get much game time. As his dad says, George is at the age where he need games. I can't fault the club, and I understand why George wishes to move on.
But surely by playing in the winning side and gaining promotion he and the others must have earned the right to progress . After all he and all the others have done exactly what has been asked of them and more . Reward for doing so is to be told that's it !!! I would have thought not If we'd been mid table or relegated change it but surely this young team has something special with a few additions to strengthen in depth