Exeter left 'disappointed' by Ampadu transfer verdict

Exeter City chairman Julian Tagg was left "disappointed for football" following the tribunal over Ethan Ampadu's move to Chelsea.

Published : Apr 21, 2018 00:01 IST

Exeter City have criticised the tribunal over Ethan Ampadu's move to Chelsea, declaring the outcome sends out the "wrong message" to clubs who produce young talent.

The teenage defender made the switch to Stamford Bridge last July, though the Premier League champions failed to agree a fee with the League Two club at the time.

The Professional Football Compensation Committee has ruled the Grecians will receive a guaranteed sum of £1.3million for the 17-year-old, with the fee potentially rising to £2.5 million through additional payments.

However, Exeter chairman Julian Tagg declared he was "disappointed for football" at the final verdict.

Ampadu has played seven times for Chelsea's first team this season, as well as making his international debut for Wales.

"Whilst the club recognise that the compensation 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," Tagg said in an official statement.

"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 home-grown players for both club and country. 

"At this stage, we have no written justification for the decision taken by the Professional Football Compensation Committee.

"We have been told that this will come within the next couple of weeks and once we receive this we will be communicating that to our supporters."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment