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Bennett Only Scholar to Be Offered Contract
Bennett Only Scholar to Be Offered Contract
Thursday, 16th Feb 2012 19:13

Right-back or midfielder Callum Bennett is the only one of the Academy’s second-year scholars who will be offered a professional contract. The seven youngsters whose scholarships are up this summer met with Academy manager Sammy Morgan and U18s coach Russell Osman to learn their fates this afternoon.

Central defender Jide Maduako, Wales U17 international midfielder Elliot Scotcher, Republic of Ireland U17 international keeper Conor O'Donnell, Yarmouth-based full-back or midfielder Aaron Jones and Republic of Ireland U17 international striker Carel Tiofack have all been released.

Norwegian central defender Nicolay Schrøder has been handed an extension to his time at Playford Road until January 2013 having spent much of his scholarship sidelined with tendinitis.

Another second-year scholar, left-back Joe Whight, was handed a two-year professional deal last summer.

Morgan says giving the news is the most difficult aspect of working with youngsters: "It's the hardest part of the job for Russell and I.

"We have worked with the boys for two years, longer in many cases, and it's hard to sit down with them and tell them we have to let them go - but decisions have to be made.

"The manager will speak to Callum about professional terms and Nico will stay with us until January because of the injury he had last year.

"We will circulate the names of the others and try and help them get fixed up with a club. Just because we have not given them a contract, it doesn't mean they won't stay in the game. There are plenty of examples of players being released who have gone on to have good careers in football."

Bennett, a former Kesgrave High School pupil who has also operated at centre-half, first played for the Blues at U9 level.


Photo: Action Images



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WREXHAM_BLUE added 19:18 - Feb 16
Good luck to the lads moving on!!
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PauloJulio added 19:18 - Feb 16
Bit suprised by that tbh!
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trueblue1970 added 19:19 - Feb 16
Carel Tiofack were Arsenal meant to be interested in him?
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afrodids added 19:23 - Feb 16
that's exactly what I thought trueblue. strange if it is!
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tractorblue99 added 19:24 - Feb 16
A RIGHT BACK!!! :O :O :O
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ITFC4daprem added 19:24 - Feb 16
good luck
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AlanMahon2011 added 19:25 - Feb 16
Who?

Clegg Out.
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taylor15 added 19:29 - Feb 16
whaaaaat the hell?! o'donnell was being watched by premier league clubs.. jide maduako looks like a decent centre back.. and carel tiofack was being watched by arsenal?! sounds pretty stupid to me if i'm perfectly honest!
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TractorBeezer added 19:33 - Feb 16
Good luck lads
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TractorMan added 19:35 - Feb 16
I think the lesson here is the stories about O'Donnell and Tiofack were complete nonsense. No doubt stories planted by their representatives or families to win them a deal.

Good luck, but clearly not expected to make it at this level, which is true of about 90% of those who look to come through the academies across the country.

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Buryblueboy added 19:37 - Feb 16
I guess this is another downside of no genuine reserve football plus the 5 sub rule means there is such a jump from U18s to the first team. Good luck to these boys in finding a new club. Shame they never got an opportunity to be loaned out to see if there was a glimmer of hope in any of these boys.
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bedsitfc added 19:38 - Feb 16
tiofack? arsenal?? your 'aving a laugh.
don't believe everything you read in the papers.

not to say he wont find another club but more like halifax town than arsenal.
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shoopdelang added 19:45 - Feb 16
Bennet is very average... Very suprised by this
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shoopdelang added 19:46 - Feb 16
Although I wish the best of luck to him he has been giventhe chance now time forh im to take it
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LancsBlue added 19:48 - Feb 16
bedsitfc

Halifax Town no longer exist. Reformed as AFC Halifax - but your point is correct.
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Wallingford_Boy added 19:59 - Feb 16
Taylor15 and the others, your comments really are quite funny you have NO IDEA about any of these players at all do you? Very average bunch of lads this year, so no surprise they all got released (bar Bennett).
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Dissboyitfc added 20:10 - Feb 16
saw the keeper conor o'donell against leeds, looked decent to me... Coyb
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Berts_chin added 20:15 - Feb 16
Doesn't bode well for a Class 1 academy.
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Tractastic added 20:20 - Feb 16
Well done Callum.Seen this guy a few times and looks a really good prospect.
Shame for all the other lads but good luck to them.
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Essexnblue added 20:42 - Feb 16
I know people are bored, but please only comment if you have seen these guys play, dont be swayed by ridiculous press comments.

Correct decisions have been made in my opinion and Callum is a lot stronger in the tackle than others released.

If the keeper was better with crosses and command of his box then I would have kept him as well.
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MarkITFC added 20:47 - Feb 16
Bennent has been in the acadamy since about u8s as i can remember him when i was also in the acadamy back intil about u12s although he used to play Upfront scored loads of goals !
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OldSchool added 20:49 - Feb 16
Having seen a lot of U-18's games this season, I feel that releasing O'Donnell is a huge mistake as he is far better than Cody Cropper.

Bennett - when played as a right-back and NOT a midfielder (or centre back as of late) is decent, and worth giving a contract to.

Maduako although clumsy, has been our most improved player this season and deserved a chance, especially given our lack of cover at centre-back.

Jones has played most of the season out of position - he's a midfielder and NOT a right-back - so he can count himself unlucky as he's never played in his best role.

Same can be said for Tiofack, who when played in his central role is a great creator for others, although he lacks a finishing edge.

Not seen much of Scotcher so can't really comment.
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AlanMahon2011 added 20:54 - Feb 16
Our academy is average at best - really don't see how coaches are looking at them?

Clegg Out.
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BillBlue added 20:58 - Feb 16
Yeah, I am seriously worried about the future of our Academy and this does look like a great big rusty nail being driven in. OK for Sammy Morgan and Russell Osman to cry crocodile tears but, what we need, is about the same amount of money that was squandered on Priskin to be invested and the previous Manager reinstalled to the Academy, otherwise it is not only the future of these young players but ours as a useful club as well. This is a very crazy world. COYB
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blue1 added 21:11 - Feb 16
Well done Callum you have worked hard for 10 years its been a tough season with you changing position every week but hopefully now you show them what you can do at RB - its your 3rd season of u18s and you played reserves at 15 so push on now. All the best to the other boys its not a nice position to be in and I wish you well for the future.
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