BIG MOVE ACADEMIC FOR NEIL’S ACE TUNDE
FC UNITED boss Neil Reynolds believes Tunde Owolabi could follow in the footsteps of Jamie Vardy after the striker clinched a £35,000 switch to Hamilton Academical.
Owolabi, 25, was voted Northern Premier League Player of the Season by NLP readers after netting 35 times in all competitions before the season was scrapped.
His tally of 28 league goals for Reynolds’ promotion chasers was also the highest by any player in the top seven tiers of English football.
But despite enquiries from several League Two clubs, it was the Scottish Premier League side who pounced for one of NonLeague’s hottest talents.
“When you score 35 goals in a season, you can look like the finished article,” explains Reynolds. “But Tunde’s got a lot of work to do, and he knows that.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of League One and Two managers who looked at Tunde, and maybe they didn’t think his hold-up play was quite there, or his knowledge of bringing other people into the game. Perhaps in the Scottish league, the things he can do are more valuable.
“At the end of the day, it only takes one manager to see something in you, doesn’t it? Jamie Vardy was 27 before he got to the Premier League and Tunde – you never know.
“Personally, I think it’s a great move. He played a friendly against Rangers the other day. You had Jermain Defoe at one end of the field and Tunde Owolabi at the other. Today he’ll be making his SPL debut against Celtic.
“That tells you the step up in class.
I just hope they give him an opportunity because he’s a great lad who loves playing football.”
Having spoken bullishly of keeping Owolabi earlier in the summer, Reynolds is understandably saddened to see his star striker depart.
“If you lose a 35-goal striker then of course you’re disappointed,” he says. “But, realistically, my job as a manager at this level is to improve players.
“Look at the players I’ve moved on. I’ve got Elliott Simoes, who plays into the Championship for Barnsley. He’s just won Young Player of the Year. Kurt Willoughby has just come out of the National League with Fylde. Now Tunde is in the Scottish Prem.
“Behind them is another raft of players, and I hope they all move on. Because when you have the relationship with them that I do, all you want is the best for them.”
And whilst Reynolds says the Rebels’ No.9 shirt will always be waiting for Owolabi, he isn’t holding his breath.
“Tunde’s a gentleman,” he says. “A tireless worker. One of the most exciting goalscorers I’ve ever seen. If it doesn’t work out for him at Hamilton, he’s welcome back any time. “But with the ability and the personality he’s got, I think it’ll be a long time before we see Tunde Owolabi playing at this level again.”
Speaking on the eve of his debut, Owolabi, left, said: “I’m overwhelmed. Being a pro and playing against Celtic and Rangers wasn’t something I expected to come this quickly but it’s here now and I just have to work hard and enjoy it.”