Coventry City's 2021/2022 Retailed List Reaction

Coventry City have announced their retained list following the conclusion of the 2021/2022 Championship season. 

The Skyblues finished twelfth last season having spent the majority of the first-half of the season in a firm play-off battle. Manager Mark Robins has worked miracles at the CBS Arena, given Coventry have one of the lowest budgets in the division. 

Following the end of the season, Coventry have announced that four players have been retained by the club whilst four have been released after their contracts came to an end. 

Released

Coventry have allowed four players to make permanent departures from the club after their contracts came to an end. 

Firstly, U23s captain Jonny Ngandu was released by the Skyblues after being at the club from a very young age. The 20-year-old has only managed one first team appearance for the Skyblues. This was during an EFL Trophy group stage match against Cheltenham Town back in late 2017. Since then, Ngandu floated around the clubs youth set-up, became the U23s captain, had a brief loan spell at Icelandic side Keflavik and helped guide the club to success in the PDL Final beating Bristol City. He has been understandably let go by the club. He was a player that was always fell just short of the first team every time he got close and with the rise of quality within the club following their rise from League Two to the Championship, his current ability didn't match what was required. 

The only other U23s player to depart the club, was midfielder Aaron Evans-Harriott. The 19-year-old joined the Skyblues back in February 2020 for an 'Undisclosed compensation package' from Cheltenham Town. He immediately linked up with the clubs U18s and put in some brilliant performances, especially his link-up play with young forward Harrison Nee. This season, Evans-Harriett has found himself floating in and out of the clubs U23s but never quite grabbed the opportunities with both hands. He slipped down the pecking order behind the likes of Aidan Finnegan and Jonny Ngandu himself. With the clubs quality improving, particularly at youth level, it's no surprise to see the midfielder let go by the club, and he will seek pastures new this summer. 

Moving into the first-team, centre-back Josh Pask has also been released by the Skyblues. The 24-year-old made 23 appearances in all competitions for the club since arriving on a free transfer from West Ham United in Summer 2019. Pask suffered horribly with injuries to begin with, and failed to make his debut until late 2019, during an FA Cup replay against Bristol Rovers at St Andrews, in which Pask scored his only City goal in. Since then, he's slipped on and off the first team bench, also started a handful of games in the Championship during the 2020/2021 campaign. Pask was put in the 'bomb squad' following the conclusion of the Summer transfer window and remained a part of the U23s side. In January, Pask signed for League Two side Newport County on loan for the remainder of the campaign. He impressed in South Wales despite suffering again with injuries. Without a club going into the summer, Pask will be hopeful of securing his new side sooner rather than later and with his versatility coming into play, I'm certain he will find a new club and look to relaunch his career as soon as he can. 

The final player to depart was our longest serving player Jodi Jones. The 24-year-old departs the Skyblues after joining back in Early 2016 on loan from National League side Dagenham & Redbridge and grabbed his first goal during a late 2016 EFL Trophy match against Northampton Town, the competition in which the Skyblues went on to win at Wembley in April 2017. Jones was a standout figure in the early stages of the 2017/2018 season, scoring a hat-trick on the opening day. His form attracted solid interest from Leeds United but unfortunately, Jones suffered the first of three ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries in consecutive seasons which really put a horror pause on his footballing career. He managed to go the majority of the 2021/2022 season, injury free but was reduced to a squad player, although he did grab a very important assist against Huddersfield Town in late 2021. He finished the campaign injury free, with two solid performances but he decided it was time to move on and begin a new chapter in his career. 

Retained;

The Skyblues also confirmed that four players have had their one year options taken up, keeping them contracted to the club by a further twelve months. 

Firstly, U23s midfielder Aidan Finnegan will be remaining at the club for a further season. The 18-year-old joined the Skyblues in October 2020 after leaving Birmingham City. He has became a firm figure in the clubs U18s side throughout the season and has been on the cusp of breaking into the U23s set-up on a more permanent basis. He is yet to make a first team appearance for the club but will be hopeful of having a very strong campaign, next season. 

Elsewhere, U23s defender Jay McGrath has also had his contract extended by a further season. The 19-year-old, joined the club in September 2020 from non-league side Mickelover Sports and originally linked-up with the clubs U18s. He enjoyed a terrific U18s debut season and was promoted to the clubs U23s, competing with Josh Reid for the starting spot in the side. He scored a couple of goals and assists, as well as starting for the Skyblues U23s during their recent PDL final success against Bristol City. This included a sensational block late on to ensure the victory and he will have another exciting season on his hands next season. 

The final member of the clubs U23s, who's contract was extended was full-back Blaine Rowe. The 20-year-old is a product of the Coventry City academy and was given the green light to move into the U23s set-up after Jak Hickman was sacked. Rowe has put in some outstanding performances for Coventry's U23s this season, developing an excellent relationship on the pitch with Marco Rus and Fabio Tavares. Rowe was loaned out in January to Scottish Championship side Ayr United. He managed just three appearances before suffering a season ending injury and he will return to the Skyblues this summer, keen to bounce back. 

The final player retained is midfielder Jordan Shipley. The 24-year-old is a product of the Skyblues academy and has been with the club since the age of seven, climbing the ranks to become a firm member of the first team. Shipley managed 11 appearances in the Championship this season, playing in numerous positions from defensive midfield to left-wing back. He also won the clubs goal of the season with a sublime first time finish from a Todd Kane corner against QPR. Shipley has made over 160 appearances for the club, including a goal in the league two play-off final. Shipley may have been retained but the club have confirmed that they have accepted a bid from an unnamed league one side for his services, so he will be leaving the club this summer.