Reading’s Ward joins Rovers in loan deal
FOREST Green have secured the services of Reading goalkeeper Lewis Ward on loan until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old, who started training with his new side yesterday, had been on loan at fellow League Two side Northampton for the first half of the season, but had only featured in cup competitions.
Prior to that, Ward, who has yet to start for the Royals, went on loan to National League side Aldershot in the 2017/18 campaign, where he played 26 games as they reached the play-offs.
With Robert Sanchez returning to parent club Brighton earlier in the window, it was a position Forest Green needed to strengthen and Ward says he is looking forward to coming in and fighting for the number one spot with James Montgomery and Lewis Thomas.
“It’s good to be here now and I’m really grateful that it is done and dusted and I’m looking to kick on,” he said. “I think there was some talk in the summer but it didn’t come off. I wasn’t playing at Northampton and the chance came up again to come here and I thought I’d give it a go.
“I played a lot of games last season in the National League, which was crucial to get first-team experience, and I think ticking that box was done and waiting for the League move this year was the right decision.
“It didn’t pan out at Northampton, but I’m hoping to get my chance here. I knew the reputation of Pat Mountain (goalkeeping coach) before I came here, heard he was a good coach, and everyone I have spoken to has said really great things about him and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
Ward is a player that Mountain has been keeping a close eye on for some time, watching him live in a game where he featured against current Rovers stopper James Montgomery in a game between Aldershot and Gateshead.
Mountain was pleased to get him in after losing Sanchez back to Brighton and says he has all the attributes to succeed in League Two.
“We just felt we needed another senior goalkeeper in to complement the group after Sanchez got the call to Brighton,” he said.
“Lewis has already played over 75 non-League games, 26 of those for Aldershot last season, so he has got experience of playing men’s football.
“We just felt he is someone who would fit in here, he has got the attributes we’re looking for that will complement James Montgomery and Lewis Thomas.”
Ward will wear the number 34 shirt and the signing is subject to FA and EFL approval.
Nottingham Forest are set to appoint club legend Martin O’Neill as boss to succeed Aitor Karanka.
The 66-year-old, who played 371 games and won the European Cup as a Forest player, ended his five-year spell as Republic of Ireland manager last November.
He returns to a Reds side who are ninth in the Championship, four points outside the play-off places.
O’Neill will become Forest’s 11th manager since June 2011.
There is no word on whether his Ireland number two – former Forest star Roy Keane – will be joining him at the City Ground.