Morris praise for Williams and O'Riordan after award winning seasons

Alex Morris has praised the contribution of his young scholars, Connor O’Riordan and Zac Williams, after they successfully stepped up into the first-team frame this season.

Williams suffered an ankle injury in the club’s final home game of the season against Ipswich Town and is expected to face a period of rehabilitation over the close season. The Welsh Youth International deservedly won the club’s Breakthrough Player of the Year award after establishing himself in the first team and making 20 appearances.

O’Riordan claimed the club’s prestigious Harold Finch Scholar of the Year award after breaking through and making 13 appearances in all competitions.

Those two youngsters have been a major boost for the club in what has proved to be a season of mass disappointment.

The club’s interim boss told us: “We have always had high hopes for Connor and Zac and they have done terrifically well when making that step up to the first-team. It is a completely different mindset stepping up from Under-18 and Under-23 football and we have been pleased with the way they have handled that.

“They are both mature lads and you have to remember that they are both still scholars, so to play as many games as they have is a great achievement. They have had to cope with the physicality that comes with first-team football and the competitiveness that is there when three points are at stake and we have to make sure they continue on this upward curve.

“We want both of them to play a huge part for this football club over the next few years.”