Town boss Kieran McKenna says Brentford target Omari Hutchinson “didn’t feel mentally in the right place” to travel with the squad for this evening’s friendly against Auxerre in France.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Bees are set to come back in with a £37.5 million offer for the 21-year-old, having previously had bids, the highest £35 million, turned down by the Blues.

Hutchinson was a notable absentee from the squad which beat Ligue 1 Auxerre 3-0 this evening.

“Omari, with the speculation around his future at the moment, he didn’t feel mentally in the right place to come for the game,” McKenna said when asked about Hutchinson after the match.

“It’s a challenging situation for everyone. He’s a player that we love and we support and we have empathy with the year that he’s been through and this important moment in his career.

“But also the career have the right for their position as well. We’ll keep working and communicating on that situation as well and hopefully it’ll be the best resolution for the club and for the player.”

Photo: Matchday Images

blueboy1981 added 20:09 - Aug 2 ……. no apologies for saying that this has been anything but a pre-season for a serious attempt to get back where we should have been able to have stayed - this pre-season has been worse than last in terms of readiness, and somewhat underwhelming to be honest. Having said that, the players we do have, have done their bit and impressed in the Pre-Season Friendlies - not knowing who was going next, not so much coming ! Well Done you Guys !

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ArnieM added 20:10 - Aug 2 Of course hes not mentally in the right place. He wants to leave!!!
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Bert added 20:12 - Aug 2 Whilst he is 21 my feeling is that he is not a mature young lad in managing a situation like this. KMcK is right in saying what he has . He doesn’t hide behind a keyboard but explains the situation calmly and diplomatically.
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ArnieM added 20:12 - Aug 2 Contracts arentvwieth the paper they're written on. The player and the agent have all the power. Pay up Brentford, and well pass you on our way up as you come down. Enjoy that Omari, you're making a very bad choice.
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WaltonBlueNaze added 20:13 - Aug 2 Very disappointed with Omari and the stance that he has taken. Cant see anyway back, sell him on Monday and wish him good luck he’s going to need it at Brentford!
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oioihardy added 20:14 - Aug 2 Where does it say in this article he refused to play ????? He just wasnt in the right head space . Lay off him . Town fans so quick to attack our own players . Chill out
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ArnieM added 20:18 - Aug 2 I wouldn't say quick...this has been going on for a few weeks now. Its like bloody Flynn Downes MkII....
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Gforce added 20:20 - Aug 2 What's the point of a four year contract, when he can just decide to bu@@er off at the first opportunity. Football infuriates me sometimes. Find a quality replacement asap,who actually genuinely wants to be here,unlike Hutchinson and Hackney.
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BlueRuin69 added 20:21 - Aug 2 Not in the right head space.....pathetic
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blues1 added 20:21 - Aug 2 Come on people, let's cut him a bit of slack, as none of us know for sure, the wholectruth There's a difference between refusing to play, and not being in the right mind to do so. In which case it would have been better for everyone that he didnt play. If indeed it was the former, I'd tend to agree with what people are saying however. Whichever it is tho, its probably for the best that he goes. We have enough cover for his position.

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Portman_Pie added 20:21 - Aug 2 Sadly this tarnishes how I feel about him. He wasn’t all that good last year - and is under the impression that he’s a bit more magnificent that he really is. My club don’t do pre Madonna’s… we don’t need new age footballers with this type of vibe he’s giving off. It’s a sell for me..
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BlueRuin69 added 20:22 - Aug 2 Oioihardy stop being so nieve
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VitalSigns added 20:23 - Aug 2 I just knew this would happen. One of the aspects of modern football that I despise as well as all the badge kissing bullsh1t. There is no loyalty. Well done KMac for not losing the plot. Get the max profit for him and get rid. Let’s hope he goes to Brentford and we pass them on the way up next year. Onwards we go as a TEAM.
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ITFC_Singapore added 20:27 - Aug 2 Take the money.
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 20:28 - Aug 2 Sell him and move on. We start the league Friday. We need players who want to be here, not having concentration issues.
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RobITFC added 20:39 - Aug 2 Dock his wages if he is refusing to play.
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Letchworth_Blue added 20:43 - Aug 2 We were never going to spend the kind of money we did last year for obvious reasons, but we should have been prepared to lose Omari, Delap, the loanees and have a few of the older players (Morse/Massimo) move on. We don't seem to as yet have players primed to fill the gaps created. The next days will tell, but I hope we are not going to panic buy like we did a few seasons ago.....however I have to say I'm peeved with players stating they cannot play due to transfer rumours playing with their mental state. Pathetic to be honest.

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WalkRules added 20:47 - Aug 2 So we now all turn on Omari like a pack of wolves. What a toxic site. He has given his all for us up to now - he deserves better
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Churchman added 20:49 - Aug 2 I don’t care how old he is, he’s a professional and paid accordingly. He should be behaving like one. I may be old fashioned but this ‘not mentally right’ (in other words refusing to play) is all wrong to me. But then as I say, I am out of date and maybe being paid and sitting on your rear end doing zilch if you want your way is the 2025 way. Anyone with that attitude, I’d want out as fast as possible. Such a shame. Top player in the making, but sadly not here.

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Tractorboy58 added 20:51 - Aug 2 Decent player but not worth £40m so I say take the money and run
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jas0999 added 20:51 - Aug 2 Can we fine him? He’s paid a lot of money to play football. Ridiculous.
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warwickblue added 20:59 - Aug 2 I'm going to try this on Monday: "Your grass is still long but I wasn't mentally in the right place to get my lawnmower out. That's £45 please."
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Marinersnose added 21:12 - Aug 2 I’m a huge fan of Hutch as he has such huge potential and he fits the McKenna style perfectly. He’s not yet reached his potential and struggled at times last season but this type of behaviour shows that he’s immature and unprofessional. McKenna and the fans have backed him and whilst I’m sure he’s in a dilemma regarding his future he should have proven his worth by supporting his team . Maybe this type of mentality is why Chelsea showed him the door and also Arsenal.

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RobsonWark added 21:15 - Aug 2 Money talks Money talks Dirty cash I want you Dirty cash I need you ohhhh
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 21:18 - Aug 2 Very disappointing. For once I agree with Blueboy. If he doesn't want to be here then let him go. I thought he had more about him.
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