Source: FOOTYMAD
Academy boss Rioch confident over future of released youngsters
Five academy players looking for new clubs Coventry City Academy manager Gregor Rioch has said that he expects the five young players who weren't offered contracts by the club will be able to find new clubs without difficulty. The youngsters, all in their second year as apprentices at Coventry, were not offered deals by the club, but Rioch is confident that all five will be able to fulfil their dreams of playing either professional or semi-professional football. The five players are goalkeeper Alastair Worby, midfielders Conor Grogan and Luke Bottomer, central defender Luke Adams and left back Conor Gudger. Alastair Worby has been given a trial at Scottish Champions Glasgow Rangers after impressing in a League Football Education (LFE) assessment event. Rioch said, “The day we tell the boys whether they have got a contract or not is the hardest of the year for us. We are obviously delighted for the ones that are staying on but it never feels like a successful day because of the ones you have to let go. “We have worked with four of the five boys for the last four years and grown to love them, so it is a difficult time for everyone.” Two Academy players were rewarded with one year deals with the club, goalkeeper Lee Burge and defender Cyrus Christie, but the other five have all started looking for new clubs. They all took part in the annual assessment trials, which were held at Wallsall's Banks's Stadium where scouts from around the world had a good look at over 100 young players. Worby was invited to have a trial at Rangers. Connor Grogan attracted a lot of interest from a New Zealand club as well as Stirling University, Cheltenham Town, Halesowen Town and Lindsey Wilson (USA) as a result of the trials. Rioch said, “Conor is a really committed young man who gives 100 per cent every time he takes to the pitch. "He has got a chance of playing abroad. It is the other side of the world but Conor is a lad who is never afraid to have a go at something.” Fellow midfielder Luke Bottomer also attracted interest from Halesowen, Cheltenham and the University of North Western Ohio (USA). Rioch said, “I think there will be a lot of interest in Luke from the trials. I have already had a few calls about him and I think he will get a full time club in this country. "He was very unfortunate not to get a contract with us. He is a cracking lad and very exciting right midfielder who has been an absolute pleasure to work with.” Luke Adams didn't attract so much interest as his former academy team mates, partly because there were an abundance of central defenders at the trials, but he may be given the opportunity to go to the Missouri State University (USA). “Luke was the captain of the team who was released from Birmingham at under-16 and has very good leadership qualities,” said Rioch. “He went out on work experience to Halesowen to play football and I think if he doesn’t get a full-time club I think he will certainly play at a very high standard at semi-pro level. “He’s had a lot of competition in front of him because of his position as a centre-back so he’s been unfortunate.” Left-back Conor Gudger was also unlucky to miss out on being offered a pro deal with Coventry City and Rioch praised the player saying, “Conor was the most improved player over the four years from any of the age groups." “He was very well liked and on the border of shall we, shan’t we, and has every chance of getting a pro club. He’s a magnificent character and when you have tough times in a season, like every team does, you need players like Conor because he puts a smile on people’s faces and is a superb little footballer as well.” As for Alastair Worby, Rioch said, “Ali is a really bright lad and I am sure he will go on to be successful in whatever he does, whether that is football or something else.” He finished by saying, “I wish the boys the very best of luck because they have been a credit to the football club and Academy, both on and off the field, and I’d like to thank them for their time with us but we just can’t take them all, unfortunately.” Less than half of academy players around the country will be offered a professional deal, but to earn an apprenticeship in the first place is an achievement in itself. The LFE was set up in 2004 as a partnership between the Football League and the PFA and has responsibility to manage the apprenticeship programmes at all 78 Football League clubs and currently oversee the education of over 1100 apprentices. The chief executive of the League Football Education, Alan Sykes, said, “Just to earn an apprenticeship means you have considerable talent. Unfortunately, not everyone who comes through the programme will be offered a professional contract. Those who are released by their clubs are in many instances very unfortunate and that’s where assessment trials fit in.”
