Midfielder Tommy Hughes has signed the new six-month deal TWTD revealed he had been offered on Friday, while Town have confirmed that one-year options have been triggered on Tyreece Simpson and Tawanda Chirewa’s contracts.

Hughes, 21, enjoyed a strong second half of the season in the U23s having spent 16 months out injured.

Striker Simpson, 20, has told the club he wants to move on this summer having turned down a new contract earlier in the year.

The Blues have activated the additional year in order to secure a more significant sum for the 20-year-old than the compensation they would otherwise have been due.

As previously reported, Luton Town, Peterborough United and Barnsley are all keen on the one-time Swindon loanee.

Chirewa, 18, was another of the top performers for the U23s this season, scoring 12 times as the side coached by Kieron Dyer and then John McGreal topped Professional Development League Two South.

The Zimbabwe-born, Shenfield-raised forward became Town’s second-youngest first-team player when he made his debut in the EFL Trophy tie at Colchester aged 16 years and 31 days old in November 2019.

Photos: Matchday Images

HighgateBlue added 12:52 - May 18 I think Simpson will end up achieving something, and will be added to the lengthening list of ex-Town strikers never to have achieved a great deal here, but to have gone on to be relatively successful at the same level or higher elsewhere. Shame.
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ArnieM added 12:52 - May 18 Hopefully means we'll get a fee for Simpson . Really glad we've got the other lads signed on too … onwards and upwards 👍
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RegencyBlue added 14:00 - May 18 The club is going places with or without Simpson. If he doesn't want to be part of it that's his choice! I'm sure Ashton will get us a decent fee!
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BeattiesBackPocket added 14:16 - May 18 Highgate blue end of the day we need players to be committed and he isn't. The people you talk about are in the past under old average managers and boards/owners. You make it sound like it's a huge list I can think of Rhodes going to championship level that's about it striker wise? Mcgoldrick did a job here but was always injured so who went elsewhere from this massive list of yours and played in the prem successfully?

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Monkey_Blue added 19:43 - May 18 I agree players need to want to be here but given our struggles in terms of strikers, Simpson should have had chances after his loan but perhaps his agents tactics scuppered that. If he gets his move where will his agent be if it's goes badly?
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BlueRuin69 added 07:04 - May 19 11 goals in 30 league two games doesnt give you a right to play, get yr head down and work hard or leave. Delusions of Grandeur or greedy agent, either way 👋
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abandon_hope1978 added 07:53 - May 19 Sadly I can see Simpson's career heading off a cliff like so many other young players who hit a bit of form early then wanting more than they are worth. This contract extension now means clubs will have to pay more money for a player who's done nothing since Xmas, going nowhere at our club, and doesn't want to be here to fight for his place. He will be left with the U23's next season and his value will plummet. Difficult to recover from this situation I fear.

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