Good Will hunting by boss Coleman
FORMER Southampton defender Will Wood has become Accrington Stanley’s first signing of the summer as the Reds gear up for life in League One.
The 21-year-old defender signed a oneyear deal with Stanley after being released by the Premier League club, where he spent the last ten years.
While the youngster has no first-team experience, Stanley boss John Coleman saw enough to impress when Wood spent a couple of days training with the first-team squad earlier this year.
And Coleman is confident Wood has enjoyed the right footballing education with the Saints to make an impact at the Wham Stadium.
“Will is a defender who came to train with us in February and impressed us,” Coleman told the club’s official website.
“He has come through a prestigious academy at Southampton and fits our criteria of a young, hungry player.
“We are delighted to sign him.”
The youngster is relishing the challenge of breaking into Coleman’s matchday squad, but having see the quality of the squad in person, he’s aware of the tough task facing him.
“I know a few of the faces and hopefully there will be a couple more signings. The lads did really well last season and will be able to play in League One. Hopefully we can do well,” he told the club’s website.
“I’m delighted to get the deal done early doors, before going away on holiday and now I can have a nice chill and look forward to the season.
“I went for a six-week trial when I was eleven and came through the ranks, the under 18s and under 23s – now I’m look- ing for a new challenge and I’m happy to be here.
“I came down for a couple of days in February to get a taste of it and train with the lads and really enjoyed it.
“The interest came about through my agent really, looking around at clubs and seeing what positons they needed. I must have popped up and John Coleman has has taken a gamble.
“I am a left-sided defender who can play either left-back or left centre half.
“When I play left-back I like to get forward and get involved and then as a centre half I am aggressive, I like to win the ball back and start out from the back.
“Even when I came in they were flying so there was no stopping them. It’s good for the club to go up. League One is a bigger stage and everyone is going to be ready and hopefully push on.
“I need to get into the team and play games. Obviously I’ve never played in a professional match in the EFL, so I am looking forward to getting back for pre-season, getting fit and hopfully getting into the side as soon as possible.”
The switch from the south coast to the north west represents a big geo- graphical move for Wood, but the youngster insisted living away from is nothing new.
“I’ve always been a southerner so I’ve never lived in the north, but I should be okay! I lived away from my mum from a young age, even in Southampton, so I am used to living away from home – it’s just a bigger distance, that’s all,” he said. “I just want to get into the team as quickly as possible and contribute as much as I can. I’m really looking forward to next season and can’t wait for it to start.”
‘He fits our criteria of a young, hungry player’