Tragic young player felt let down by club
A FORMER Manchester City youngster who took his own life after being released felt let down by the club, his father told an inquest.
Jeremy Wisten, 18, was signed as a centre-back by the Premier League champions at the age of 13 but suffered ligament damage in 2018.
Manchester coroner’s court heard the left knee injury stopped him playing for five months and in December the club’s academy let him go.
On October 24, 2020, Jeremy was found hanged at his family home in Wythenshawe, Manchester.
Ex-England international Jason Wilcox, City’s academy director, told coroner Zak Golombeck the injury played no part in their decision to release Jeremy.
He added that – as far he knew – information would have been passed to the youngster about his footballing career options.
He said it was his understanding that Jeremy was offered nine trials at various clubs.
But yesterday his father, Manila, said: “He personally did not believe he was receiving the right support at Manchester City to find a new club.”
The family agreed he should concentrate on his GCSE exams rather than attend a Premier League residential course in April 2019.
But Mr Wisten said following the exams there was “really nothing much going on in trying to get a new club”. He added: “It is a case that City should have done more, I know they have done more for others.”
He said he was assured City would arrange matches in which his son would play and clubs would come to watch, but that did not happen.
Mr Wisten said the teenager had no history of mental health problems and his son had recently completed application forms for university to study forensic science.
Mr Wilcox said the club had now introduced player exit surveys and the creation of a “parent portal”.
The coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide.