i noticed Rhys Williams and Paul Glatzel both signed their first pro deals just after turning 18, usually kids sign them at 17. Is this a change of policy from us or just a quirk of circumstances with these two?
Unless there’s a suggestion they want to leave as well we want them to stay, I should think it’s a good thing to keep some flexibility. This time last year Glatzel probably had’t played more than 90 mins for the U18s for injury. Now he has pushed on and deserves his reward. Rhys did pretty well last year but I think the club has to think hard about who it keeps on after 2 years in the U18s because the U21s seem to have fewer games, in addition to which there are more than 2 years worth of players stockpiling up, and youngsters training with the firsts who need game time.
So they have to think about how use (keep, sell, loan) Phillips (the most senior after our 4 first team players), Johnston, Masterson, Whelan, Clayton and Boyes. That is, Williams, Clayton and Boyes are all due to move up next year, if kept on.