Those Left Behind

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3 months can be an eternity in football and while most of us look forward to the new season, spare a thought for those who were thrown into unemployment by the football financial crisis back in late May. On the eve of the new season, my first article looks at how those players unfortunate enough to be on free transfers have struggled or prospered over the summer period.

Its August 2001 and Swansea travel to Macclesfield with the expectation of returning immediately to the Second Division at the first attempt. Swansea had managed to keep the majority of its players from the season before and returned from the North with three impressive points as Macclesfield were brushed aside. However, the season turned into a nightmare for the Swans, with many players leaving due to occurrences on and off the pitch. The Petty crisis, the clubs administration period, the ITV Digital collapse, the constant managerial changes and the team’s dreadful league form were merely a few of the lowest points for Swans supporters. However, for some players, this lead to a summer of unemployment and an uncertain future.

The cash crisis caused the club to cut its playing staff down to the bare bones over the summer and we all had our own ideas of who should stay and who should go. First out of the door in May was David Romo, who impressed alongside fellow Frenchman Fabiano in 2001, yet failed to perform with any conviction and confidence in the last campaign. He was subsequently released a week earlier than the others after being told by Cusack that he would not be offered a renewed contract, despite scoring a wonderful long range strike against Mansfield at the end of last season. Romo ventured off to Spain in July, where he took part in a number of trial games for prospective clubs to "eye up" the talent, but no certain offers were made as a result.

Mamady Sidibe also made up his own mind and despite being offered a new deal to prove his fitness this season, he opted to leave the side and went on trial at QPR. After two successful performances, including a goal against Celtic and a hat-trick against lower league opposition, QPR could not agree terms with the forward and it was announced this week that the Malian born favourite has joined Gillingham. Anyone who watched Sidibe play last season must realise that he was too good for this level and it was only a matter of time before he was snapped up by higher league clubs…bound to be a success. Yet a negative aspect to his game would be the fact that you never felt that he was really giving his all unless the cameras were on him (QPR ring any bells?!).

Jon Coates and Chris Todd were the two real surprises to not be offered new deals in the summer. Coates was influential yet seemed to have lost all confidence and was a shadow of his former self while Todd was exceptional at one moment and disastrous the next. There were rumours of big clubs showing interest in Todd, mainly Rotherham and Bradford, yet the football crisis means that clubs need a good, strong player – not a player with potential. Coates also remains unemployed after trials with Northampton, Bristol Rovers and Oxford, with injury denting his hopes of an almost certain contract offer from the latter club. On the other hand, Steve Brodie was offered a contract almost immediate to his release by Chester manager Mark Wright. Although starting well upon arriving in December, Brodie appeared to struggle with the physical side of third division football and found himself constantly shrugged off of the ball. His new club have massive ambitions for league football and he hopes to play a part in that future. "Dodgy Keeper" was probably the best way to describe Jason Jones last season and it was with no real surprise that Freestone’s understudy was offloaded. Apparently he has given up professional football and is about to commence a Sports Science Degree at Swansea University, looking for a life "outside of football". Without meaning to offend, after watching Jones’ performance at Rushden, I think most people would agree that this is the best option!! Chris O’Sullivan, Steve Healey and Craig Draper were the three unlucky youngsters all released with the main squad. Unfortunately, had they been born five years earlier, perhaps they would be enjoying life as professional footballers now with higher league clubs – especially Craig Draper who looked sharp and capable in his short appearances in May. It’s a case of that’s life and Chris O’Sullivan is now playing for Haverfordwest, for whom he recently played in a friendly against Swansea. News of the other two has been scarce although rumours were that Healey had accepted an offer from Llanelli in July. Perhaps they could gain fulfil their potential with non-league clubs and return to league football in 3 or 4 years time. Finally, Ryan Casey was the youth Ireland international that was plagued by injury. He really only featured late in the season and although looked confident against Mansfield, struggled against Luton and in the Welsh Cup, leaving Cusack with no choice. Apparently, he had been training with Bohemians in Ireland and Barry Town also took a look at the winger, but he never lived up to the amazing potential he showed as a youngster and was shipped out of the Vetch in May.

So there you have it, the definitive guide to those players that have left the Vetch since the disappointing Welsh Cup Final defeat against Cardiff. Now that we have reminisced over the past we can look to the future with renewed optimism and enthusiasm of things to come in the next 12 months. It is now up to the new crop of players to change the club’s fortunes, with a warning that lack lustre performances could lead to them ending on the scrapheap like so many others.