David Artell has told the club’s official website that ‘Zac Williams is not going anywhere’ and only a substantial transfer fee will ever prize the Wales youth international away from the club.
Crewe Alexandra can demand a transfer fee for the 17-year-old and if clubs are miles apart in their valuation of the player any transfer fee would be decided by tribunal.
Artell has already propelled the teenager into his first team on a regular basis and his rise has already seen him captain his country at Under-19 level.
Williams is the latest of our Academy graduates to break through under Artell with the likes of Connor O’Riordan, Connor Sailsbury, Joel Tabiner and Sean Lawton sure to follow after being in and around the first team squad this season.
Artell told the club’s official website: “There is always a possibility of our younger players moving because we have the 11th best Academy in the country and that is the club’s business model, but that always depends on a number of factors.
“We won’t have the mickey taken out of us. No-one likes to be robbed and we won’t have other clubs stealing from us. Zac, like the others, will be an open transfer. Compensation doesn’t come into it, so we can demand whatever.
The boss added: “Clubs cannot just come in and try and knick our players and let’s make it clear with Zac, he isn’t going anywhere.”