'An offer we couldn't refuse' - Mark Ashton on why Bristol City sold Lloyd Kelly to Bournemouth The defender completed his move to the Premier League today Mark Ashton says Bristol City felt they could not turn down Bournemouth's offer for Lloyd Kelly. Highly-rated defender Kelly completed his move from the Robins to the Cherries this afternoon, with City receiving a club-record fee for the 20-year-old. Robins CEO Ashton says they felt the offer was too good to turn down. He told the club website: “We are immensely proud that Lloyd has come through our system and whilst it’s always sad to see an academy graduate leave the football club, this is an offer we felt we couldn’t refuse. “We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Lloyd and we wish him all the best moving forward.” Robins boss Lee Johnson said Kelly will always be welcome back at Ashton Gate. He said: “Lloyd has been a pleasure to work with. I’ve very much enjoyed watching his journey from the academy to the first team, to playing for England Under-21s, training with England’s first team and now his Premier League move. “We wish him all the very best at Bournemouth and he will always be welcome back at Ashton Gate. I hope to stay in touch – best of luck Lloyd.” Kelly is the latest Robins academy graduate to secure a Premier League move. Bobby Reid and Joe Bryan both moved to the Premier League last summer, whilst the Robins also rejected a bid from Chelsea for Antoine Semenyo in January. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/an-offer-couldnt-refuse-mark-2883343
Let’s hope we don’t get a similar one for Webster , surely it’s not out of the question , that would certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons.
Good luck to him It says we got a club record fee, so exactly how much did we get for him ? Just seen it was £13m. A very good bit of business I'd say.
Just to expand this decision with regard to the sale of Lloyd Kelly, I'm happy with the sale of Lloyd Kelly and wish him a great future. The headline of this article has got me thinking, this is given so say by the man in charge - Mark Ashton, now we all know he is a man of regular habits, when things are difficult he vanishes into oblivion and others have to assume responsibilities, give explanations and reasons why, when we have an achievment or success up he pops like the proverbial son and walks on the sunnyside. He gives the reason ' Too good to turn down' does this mean we are living hand to mouth, we need the funding to pay our way that we have to sell the family silver to progress, I don't understand the need to sell all of our assets, some like our 3 gems last year I understand but now Kelly and possibly O'Dowda and what if somebody comes in with gut busting offers for Webster and Brownhill or Korey Smith, even worse the the rumours that Lee Johnson is concerned about the finance that we've have offered to invest this transfer window. Obviously as a club we won't declare our intentions to the fact we are going to spend millions or the competition will hold us to ransom if we are in negotiations with them but surely Ashton should be more professioinal with his comments and not make bold statements to glamourise the deal and make it look like an excuse and not the success it is. I understand we have operate in the modern world and football has become a business where profit is king or we end up like Bristol Rovers or Bolton. All this could change with Ashton & Johnson bringing in some diamonds like last season and that would be fantastic but we all know what the ambitions are and should be, we are a solid club on the up, be prudent and sensible by all means but let us assume and demonstrate we are on the rise and our leaders should have the confidence to demonstrate this, we should be proud of who we are and what we are achieving because it's a fact and a declaration of the truth. We don't want to become a pride of Lions led by Donkies, we've all been there before. Rant complete.
Every player has a price and every player has a say in his own destiny hence why O’Dowda will leave because he won’t sign a new contract. However City last year were quick to get in replacements for the departed and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see an announcement in the next couple of days, probably Dasilva
The deal was ' too good to turn down' because Kelly, talented though he is and will probably become an established premiership player in the future, is still a work in progress prone to regular mistakes and not currently worth £13m. Just my opinion!
I seem to feel this is all part of "the plan" given to us a a couple of years ago when they WTSC took on Lee and said THIS IS THE WAY IT IS … buy youngsters improve them and sell them /hope to be able to make a team to complete for better things ...prem? so expect more of the same
I agree, I understand why he, & the club , accepted this offer, however I think he would have been better staying with us at least another year, he’s more likely to get game time with us than in the Premier League. I do think he has all the attributes to be a top player , but can’t see him playing many games yet in the Premier League yet. Maybe if Kalas doesn’t come here we can loan Kelly for a season.
This could be another offer coming we can't refuse and I understand this one. Callum O'Dowda wants to leave Bristol City after being 'frozen out' of team since March amid £10m Leeds United interest - reports He has reportedly been fit for some time https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/callum-odowda-wants-leave-bristol-2884609
This does make sense, I’ve mixed feelings, from afar he doesn’t appear to have the right attitude, he tends to flatter to deceive, he’s one of those players who doesn’t seem ever to fulfill his potential. By all accounts he seems to want out so best to let him go, hopefully his departure will allow others already in the squad to step up. I would like to see Elliason given more time , his crossing is top class , and his covering back has improved immensely, i don’t think he was played enough this season. Adelakun is another one who seemed to be held back by injury last season, so hopefully with a full preseason will press Elliason for a starting place, It’s probably best for all concerned to get as much as we can for him and let him go, I’d be surprised if we get that much for him though £4-6m at most.
The report says at the bottom, we are looking for £6 million. The £10 million was the fee we asked for in January
I can fully accept that a few of our younger players have ambitions to play at the top level and if the time and price are right perhaps we all can benefit from their departure. The last thing we need when we are committed to success is whining players creating disharmony and moaning about their lot at Bristol City when in reality they may look back in a couple of years and ask themselves why the hell they left the calm and pleasant pastures of Ashton Gate. It has become quite apparent that Steve Lansdown is not the kind of businessman who splashes the cash on any shadow that may appear over BS3 and despite my criticism of those past dealings it is probably the better way to proceed. Looking back over the circa 20 goal scorers that have moved on for some reason or another I wonder how many of them give us even a second thought about being part of their career? Have a great summer one and all.
£6m reinvested wisely would represent the best for both sides imo. There will be many questions answered over the summer , many of which will be down to the players . What team lines up for the new campaign at present is a complete unknown, Webster, Kalas, JDS, Brownhill, FF already gone, I’m sure a couple of the fringe players may step up too , Adelakun for example, Semenyo as well, a few new players will join too I’m sure, will they be established players, ones for the future , or hopefully a combination of the two.
I meant FF is already gone, the others are likely to have created interest by their form over the season from clubs either in the Premier League or top championship clubs able to pay more.
You can't really stand in the way of a player when he gets an offer from a PL club. LJ was a player and knows exactly how they think. He said as much on the radio yesterday. We are looking for young players with potential to play in the prem. Until we get there you have to accept that we let players move on if they get the chance. That is how we will attract more young players who see that it can happen if they come to AG.
