Simons' departure from City is not expected to be the only one before Monday's 11pm deadline with Andy Smith also likely to move to a club in League Two, with both Gillingham and Leyton Orient understood to be keen on signing the defender. It's also understood that Brandon Fleming is likely to remain with the club's Under-21 setup after a move to a League Two club fell through.
Rotting in the under-21s for a few months before getting released in your mid-20s is pretty humiliating. I don't know why we recalled him from Doncaster.
On a slightly related note, I just checked on how Furlong was getting along at Wimbledon and he's barely played. Another cack left-back on our books that can't even cut it at League Two level.
Clearly something odd has gone on with Fleming's moves, but what a mess for him. In hindsight, getting that long contract with us in 2022 has really hurt his career. He should've been playing regularly at whatever his level is but instead he's been passed from pillar to post by City managers who don't want him and not really fit in anywhere.
He can't play with his 2 mates from the academy who he knows - and they know him inside out everywhere he goes though, can he?
Deal sheets A reminder from the EFL that the deal sheets we hear so much about in relation to the Premier League, are not in operation in the EFL... Deal sheets are not in operation in the EFL. In the EFL, all documentation must be provided prior to the deadline closing for the registration of a player to go through.
Presumably because we had a permanent move for him lined up in League Two, but either the buying club changed their mind, or Fleming wouldn't agree terms with them. If he's holding out for a wage similar to the one he's on with us, he's going to have a very long wait.
"Since he signed his new contract at City in the summer of 2022, things have unravelled pretty quickly for one of the most popular figures in the Tigers' dressing room. That summer, he thought he would be City's first-choice left-back, but injury had a big impact on that and really set him back. Loan spells with Oxford United and Shrewsbury Town didn't really work out, and his move to Doncaster Rovers earlier this season was ended by the South Yorkshire club, who chose to go in a different direction and he therefore returned to the Tigers. City, it's understood, had lined up a move to League Two for Fleming, but sadly, that hasn't happened for him, either. Now back at City and training with the academy, and with his contract expiring in the summer, you have to feel for the 25-year-old, who needs to be playing football." From Baz's live blog. Pretty sure McCann said he was signed as one of their left backs got injured, and when that left back was fit again, they didn't need Fleming anymore.
If I’m not mistaken he’s played for us this season against Wednesday in the cup. Meaning he can only play for us or Donny.
When he got the longer contract with us (2022?) previously, he took a pay cut from his original contract, to ensure longer g term stability, so maybe the other deal fell through and (maybe) with our luck with defenders having a 'spare' is prudent...
"Brandon is a good player. When he came in just after the start of the season, we had an injury to James Maxwell which we thought would be longer than planned but he got back quickly. Brandon knew right away when he came in that it was because of an injury. Brandon was clear from day one. He's gone back now and we've got two good full-backs in James and Jack Senior fighting for that position" How did the recall play out - did you have to agree to the deal? "Yes. It was more of us looking at it and wanting to refine the group really. It's disappointing every week leaving players out. "Although the boys train well and I don't have any issues or anyone knocking at my door. People outside the club may think 'well, how do you keep them all happy?' but we have such a good group of players. "It was a case me and Brandon looking at it and saying Maxwell and Senior are both fit and in good form. Brandon's out of contract in the summer and will want to play games to keep himself in the shop window and we couldn't really offer him that. So it was more of a mutual decision really, that he went back. We wish him well because I love Brandon. Of all the games he's played, probably 70 of them have been under me and I don't think he's probably played 100 games so he knows how much I like him as a player. I've no doubt he'll have a really good career but at this moment we have to focus on what we have, in James and Jack." Sounds like Donny weren't bothered
