Sykes agrees three-year deal with Pearson’s City
BRISTOL City have confirmed the signing of Mark Sykes on a three-year contract, the 24year-old becoming Nigel Pearson’s first key signing of the summer.
The former Oxford midfielder underwent a medical at the High Performance Centre yesterday as City’s summer recruitment plan gets into full swing.
Sykes, a right-sided attacking midfielder, joins on a free transfer after opting against extending his deal with the League One side.
The player enjoyed an impressive first half of the campaign under Karl Robinson, scoring a career-best eight League goals and achieving a further five assists.
His form faded at the turn of the year, with his last strike coming in a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Pearson has reiterated the need and desire to work within a stringent budget while recruiting players who have the desire to succeed and have the right tools at his disposal to win ‘scruffily.’
Before the official announcement of Sykes’ arrival, Pearson told Geoff Twentyman’s Sounds of the City: “We know the types of players who we want to come in, we want players who are ambitious and certainly Mark Sykes ticks those kinds of boxes.”
The manager was also keen to add goals from his midfield to ease the burden on his attacking trio.
His side scored 62 goals last season with Chris Martin, Antoine Semenyo and Andi Weimann scoring 42 of those.
After those three in attack, Alex Scott was the club’s top-scorer with four, ahead of Nahki Wells and Rob Atkinson who managed three and two respectively.
Pearson will now likely turn his attention to bolstering his defence with Kane Wilson an option at right wing-back.
Forest Green’s League Two Player of the Season is out of contract in the summer, but is also attracting interest from Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City.
City’s signing of Sykes comes on the back of them agreeing contracts for youth players Ben Acey and Tim Ap Sion, both following in the footsteps of the impressive Scott and joining the club from Channel Island club Guernsey.
City, meanwhile, have released their retained list for next season confirming that Callum O’Dowda has left the club at the end of his contract.
The Robins also announced that negotiations are still ongoing to tie Timm Klose and Robbie Cundy to new deals, while Andy King is also in talks to stay on a player-coach role, with their current contracts expiring on June 30.
Striker Louis Britton and fellow youngster Barney Soady are also among the players who will leave Ashton Gate. The club confirmed the departure of both Khari Allen and Nathaniel Williams too.
O’Dowda, 27, ends a six-year spell in BS3. City had the option of a year extension to his contract, but the club opted against keeping him on for a seventh season.
He made over 150 appearances following his move from Oxford, but form and injuries limited him to just 16 Championship starts throughout the course of the season. O’Dowda found opportunities difficult to come by towards the end of the campaign as manager Nigel Pearson looked towards the future.
Negotiations to keep Klose and Cundy come as no real surprise considering Pearson’s openness to keep them on the books towards the end of the season.
The club are keen to hold onto King, although it appears he could combine his role as a player and coach. The experienced 33-year-old has made just ten Championship starts with his season being hampered by two hamstring injuries.
Pearson will look to further reduce the wage bill with the club open to listen to offers for Kasey Palmer and Nahki Wells.
■ Jake Daniels has become the UK’s first active male professional footballer to come out as gay.
The 17-year-old Blackpool forward is the first Briton in the men’s game to come out publicly as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
He told Sky Sports: “It’s been a crazy year. I’m 17. I’ve signed a professional contract. I’ve scored 30 goals this season and I’ve just made my first-team debut.
“And now I have decided to come out. Everything has happened at once but it feels right. Now it’s out, and people know.
“Now I can just live my life how I want to and you know what? It’s been incredible.”
■ Former Charlton Athletic boss Johnnie Jackson has been named the new manager of AFC Wimbledon. Ex-Yeovil stalwart Terry Skiverton will assist Jackson.