Hawtin, Shama, Long and Bevans offered new deals with the U's
Oxford United’s successful Development Squad continues to bear fruit with four young players offered new deals with The U’s for next season.
Defenders Matt Bevans and Sam Long, midfielder Aidan Hawtin and striker Josh Shama have all been offered extended contracts with the U’s after impressing this season. Bevans and Long have both done well in the first team while Hawtin and Shama have starred in the Development games, designed to bridge the gap between youth team football and the first team.
With Max Crocombe, Ty Marsh, Josh Ruffels and Callum O’Dowda already regulars in the first team squad and youngsters Josh Ashby, James Robert and Sam Humphreys offered their first professional contracts this summer United can now call on eleven players to have come through the youth and development system at the club.
Head Coach Gary Waddock said:
“All four of them have done really well this season. They have an energy about them, they work hard at their game and they want to do well for the club. The fans have seen what Matt Bevans and Sam Long can do already. Josh never stops working in games and is a real handful. Aidan has fought back from a couple of injuries and fully deserves his chance to push on next year.
“It is exciting to see so many young players coming through at the club. They will be part of the future and over the next few days we will sit down with the senior players and make decisions with them as well.”
Chairman Ian Lenagan said:
“A lot of hard work and investment has gone into developing our own players, most of them local lads. There is a clear pathway now. The Development Squad has done its job this season. The aim was to help four or five players progress into the first team squad and next season those players have the opportunity to stake a claim as first team regulars.”
Sadly not every player can be taken on and both David Lynn and Kenzer Lee have been told that they will not be offered new deals. Gary Waddock told us:
“It’s never easy. Both of them are great lads who I hope will find another club and bounce back from this disappointment.”