Source: FOOTYMAD
Manchester United and Arsenal pair sign for City
Academy win signatures of promising youngsters Coventry City academy have pulled of a coup and signed two youngsters, one from Manchester United and one from Arsenal ahead of a host of other clubs who were keen to attract the pair. Coventry City Academy boss Gregor Rioch gave the credit for attracting the promising youngsters to the club's recruitment officer Mark Foggarty. It was Foggarty who persuaded the pair to have a look at the academy and facilities on offer at Coventry and to convince them both that they would benefit from being at the club. Rioch explained, “We have had a full time recruitment officer for the last 12 months and what it has enabled us to do is go out to all the top clubs, Arsenal, Man United, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea and build up a fantastic relationship with them." “Then when they are about to release boys they have let us know with a little tip-off and that has enabled us to put in an early phone call to the lads, who we already know about and steal the march on other clubs. Some of the boys will get 20-odd calls from clubs all wanting to speak to them but we managed to get these lads in and show them around." "They came in and Aidy Boothroyd was brilliant with them and let them train with his squad for the day where they could see how the likes of Conor Thomas and our other young Academy boys have progressed and enjoyed a taste of first team football.” The two lads are Jemal Wiseman and Louis Garner. Wiseman came from Arsenal and is a central midfielder while Garner, who joined from Manchester United is a right winger. Both lads travel from their homes to Coventry on Fridays in order to train with the academy players and play for either the under 16's or under 18's on Saturdays. Rioch, who is delighted to have the two boys in his care explained, “Jemal is a central midfielder who breaks forward and he won a penalty against Cardiff at the weekend by doing that.” “He reminds me of a young David Rocastle. He’s a very skillful and talented lad who we knew all about and when he came and had a look at us he loved everything he saw and signed pretty much straight away, saying that he preferred us to other clubs." “Louis is an exciting right winger who we were very surprised when United let him go. He reminds me of Aaron Lennon in the way he plays. He has got that style about him, he’s very powerful and quick and has a really good delivery and we think he was unfortunate to have been released.” While Jemal Wiseman has already signed for the academy, Louis Garner has signed a pre-apprenticeship contract agreement and will join the club full time in the summer. Rioch praise the part Foggarty played in attracting the teenagers saying, “All credit to Mark Foggarty and his team who are helping us develop a really competitive academy.”
