Club Chairman says boss has earned the trust of the younger players when it comes to their development with us.
Chairman John Bowler has praised the work achieved by David Artell in relation to enticing the club’s best assets resign their contracts. Artell continues to manage the continuity of those youngsters extending their deals so they can develop in our first team, as well as protecting our investment in the process.
The Chairman feels that allowing players to go out of contract or enter the last few months of their current deals ‘was becoming an issue’ with the likes of Max Clayton, George Cooper and Ryan Colclough leaving for reduced fees or compensation in the past.
Bowler told the club’s official website: “There has been a real focus on the contracts of the younger players and Dave (Artell) has done a terrific job in managing that.
“Of course, there comes a stage when agents get involved but Dave has earned the trust of the players. He can talk from experience and I think he gives the players confidence in what he says. It is getting back to when Dario (Gradi) was in charge and the players knowing that what he is telling them is the truth.
“The strategy hasn’t changed and Dave is honest with them. He knows what the club is about, about developing and selling our own players and he tells them that if is right to stay with us and help us through then when that right offer comes in for them and the club then we won’t stand in their way.
The chairman added: “I think the younger ones now really understand that and appreciate where Dave and the club is coming from. We are a selling club and that will continue to be our model going forward.”