EXETER IN BLAST AT CASH FOR ACE AMPADU
EXETER City have hit out at the decision of the Professional Football Compensation Committee over teen star Ethan Ampadu’s move to Chelsea.
The 17-year-old defender joined the Blues last summer and has had a successful first season at Stamford Bridge. He has also earned international honours with Wales.
Exeter’s total compensation is up to £2.5m: comprising a guaranteed sum of £1.3m based on a transfer fee plus international and first-team appearances already made, with the balance made up of contingent sums amounting to a further £1.25m depending on the player’s first-team appearances with Chelsea. The Grecians have also got a 20 per cent sell-on fee.
Exeter chairman Julian Tagg said: “Whilst the club recognise that the compen- sation fee is not a transfer fee but instead to reward the club for its investment in the training and development of a proven outstanding player, and that the tribunal has awarded Exeter significant contingent sums, to say that we are disappointed is an understatement.
“We are disappointed for our fans, our academy, which works so hard on producing talented young players like Ethan and for our management and coaching team who bring these players into the first team and beyond as part of supporting the work of the FA in its objective to produce international players of the highest quality, which we believe we have done.
“However, above all, we are disappointed for football as we feel this decision sends the wrong message in terms of financial reward for those owners, chairmen, managers and coaches up and down the country who are also working as hard as us to improve their clubs by producing talented homegrown players for both club and country.”