Forest Green ‘inthemix’ for Tigers’ Smerdon
FOREST Green are in pole position to land Gloucester City hotshot Noah Smerdon. The left-back impressed while playing for Rovers reserves in a Central League match against Plymouth on Tuesday and it is thought that the club are poised to make an offer to sign him in January, although he could remain with the Tigers on loan for the rest of the season.
Gloucester City manager Chris Todd admits that he expects Smerdon to join another club when the transfer window re-opens for Premier League and Football League clubs but insists they haven’t received an approach yet.
Smerdon has attracted a lot interest due to his sterling performances in National League South this season and spent a week on trial with Watford, while another Premier League club were understood to be looking at him.
The 18-year-old was previously in West Brom’s academy but turned down the chance to sign a contract with them to take his A-Levels at Sir Thomas Rich’s School, in Gloucestter, where he is still a pupil.
“He hasn’t gone anywhere yet but he’s been training at various clubs,” said Todd. “He is a massive talent and we are lucky to have him and obviously it’s only a matter of time before he does go and get his move to a Football League club or higher.
“It’s just a case of Noah, his family and the football club to decide what is right for Noah Smerdon.
“It’s really positive and shows what Gloucester are doing as a football club, whatever happens.
“I would expect it to happen in January and obviously if we do agree with a club negotiate him staying (until the end of the season) but that might not happen.
“Nothing has been agreed with any football club, whether it’s Forest Green, Watford or others - nothing has been put on the table to the football club and until that time he’s our player.”
Smerdon signed a new contract with Gloucester soon after Todd
Forest Green are in the mix which is a massive positive. They’re a very good club and would be a perfect fit I believe. That’s up to them if they make an offer CHRIS TODD
arrived as manager, meaning they would be entitiled to a fee for his services.
“One of the first things I wanted to do was get Noah tied down because it is only a matter of time until he gets a move,” said Todd, who spent 18 months with Forest Green as a player. “We need to make sure he gets to the right football club.
“Forest Green are in the mix, which is a massive positive. They’re a very good club and would be a perfect fit I believe. That’s up to them if they make an offer but we’ve got a good relationship. At the moment Noah is fully focused on us getting into a better position in the league.”