Former Town striker Caolan Lavery has agreed to join League Two Bradford City. TWTD was first to reveal that the Canadian-born Northern Ireland U21 international was in talks with the Bantams a month ago.

The former academy striker recently turned down a six-month professional deal with the Blues and, in addition to his talks with Bradford, spent time on trial with Leicester City and more recently Sunderland.

Lavery, whose two-year academy scholarship was extended until his 19th birthday in October after he suffered a serious knee injury last season, was understood to have been unhappy with the wages on offer at Portman Road, which were believed to be below those of a number of his contemporaries.

As well as Sunderland, Leicester and Bradford, Aston Villa monitored his progress in the early part of the season, while Town were looking to send him out on loan to Rochdale prior to his decision to move on. Links with Tottenham were dismissed last season.

Lavery netted five goals in seven FA Premier Academy League games for Town’s U18s during the early stages of this campaign, plus a further four for the reserves.

Having offered the contract, Town are entitled to compensation from Bradford.

Photo: Action Images

Bobby_Petta added 11:14 - Dec 4 So he was that good he ended up at Bradford! think he thought he was better than he was. Jewell has got this one right should only get a decent wage once you have earned it, this is the trouble with young British players. Move on people he isn't worth keeping.
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tractorbhoy added 01:50 - Dec 7 Lads, just to let you know I know the lads agent and what he was offered by Ipswich wasn't even double his scholarship wages of £90 plus he would have had to pay rent and buy food and for only six months. He had no choice to turn it down. He was also offered a deal at leicester but decided Bradford was his best chance because of first team football. I for one have watched him numerous times this season and he scored every game I was at. To think that our youth policy is ok is ridiculous. Do we now just take the compensation after making poor offers and then just take a risk on the ones happy to take the low wages. Other teams want our young players the problem is PJ doesn't.

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tractorbhoy added 01:50 - Dec 7 Lads, just to let you know I know the lads agent and what he was offered by Ipswich wasn't even double his scholarship wages of £90 plus he would have had to pay rent and buy food and for only six months. He had no choice to turn it down. He was also offered a deal at leicester but decided Bradford was his best chance because of first team football. I for one have watched him numerous times this season and he scored every game I was at. To think that our youth policy is ok is ridiculous. Do we now just take the compensation after making poor offers and then just take a risk on the ones happy to take the low wages. Other teams want our young players the problem is PJ doesn't.

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