Go for it Sky Blues!
12-PAGE PLAY-OFF SPECIAL
COVENTRY City have made their first new signing for next season, handing box-to-box Brentford midfielder Zain Westbrooke a deal that could take him to 2021.
The 21-year-old took just three days to earn the contract with the Sky Blues after impressing in two training sessions and an Under-23s game before being offered a two-year deal with an option for a third.
Similar in style to City’s own Academy graduate star Tom Bayliss, the technically-gifted midfielder is a product of Chelsea’s Academy where he worked under the Premier League club’s former development coach Adi Viveash, who is now Mark Robins’ assistant and first-team coach.
“I have agreed terms and signed the contract and I think it has gone through with the FA,” said Westbrooke, who is delighted at the speed which City made their decision on him.
“I have signed for two years with an option for one more after that in the club’s favour, so I am really pleased. It came round quite quickly. I was at Brentford and they said it was best that I looked elsewhere and I obviously knew Adi Viveash from my days at Chelsea.
“He used to coach me when I was 12-years-old and I got a call from him, saying that he’s assistant manager at Coventry and asked me to come down.
“I trained for a couple of days, on a Friday and Saturday with the first team and played in the Under-23s game against Crewe and after that they said, ‘Yep, we like what we see,’ and offered me a contract.
“I was absolutely buzzing with that because they showed great faith in me so early. I was supposed to be there for a week so it was nice to get something on the Monday.”
Westbrooke left Stamford Bridge when he was 14, switching to West London neighbours Brentford where he progressed to become the Bees B team captain and won players’ player of the year last season when he also had loan spells at non-league Solihull Moors and Leyton Orient. “I had some good years at Brentford and I really enjoyed it,” he said.
“They were very good to me, especially Kevin O’Connor and Dean Smith because they gave me my debut against Fulham and my opportunity, and I haven’t got a bad word to say about them.
“Now I am just thankful that I have got a contract at Coventry.”
A pathway to the first team at a Championship club is often more difficult for young players compared to League One and Two.
“I think it was a case of every player wants to play,” he said.
“I waited for a while to get my debut, and I am really glad I did, but the next step for my career is to get games and to prove myself, and I am really happy I have got the chance to do that now.”
Asked if he’s signed with a view to joining the development squad or straight into the first team mix, he said: “I have joined the first team squad, so I am with them now, although I can’t play any games this season but I am here and able to settle in.
“The lads have all been really good to me and when I come back for pre-season I can really hit the ground running and focus on the football.”
As for his personal ambitions for next season, he said: “I need to get in the starting team.
“I know it’s going to be really difficult because there are some really good players.
“There is a really good squad at the moment and if they can keep hold of that I think the club can go really far.
“The club deserves to be in a higher league. It’s a massive club and these players can definitely do it, and hopefully I can add to that and try to bring some success.”
I was absolutely buzzing because they showed great faith in me so early. It was nice to get something on the Monday. Zain Westbrooke