Eight U21s Depart As Retained List Announced

Coventry City have officially published their 2022/23 retained/release list, following the conclusions of both the EFL Championship and Professional Development League season's with a total of 15 players leaving the Skyblues. 

Focussing on the U21s, the club have confirmed the news that eight youngsters have been officially released, following the conclusion of the PDL season. The Skyblues had a tricky start to their title defence, but narrowly missed out on a semi-final place on the final day of the season, due to results going against the club. 

The eight players that will be leaving the Skyblues U21s are;  Will Bapaga, Tom Billson, George Burroughs, Ricardo Dinanga, Aidan Finnegan, Jay McGrath, Harrison Nee and Blaine Rowe.

• Will Bapaga was an academy graduate, who made eight first-team appearances during his time with the club. The 20-year-old also enjoyed a loan stint with now League Two side Grimsby Town for the first-half of the 2021/22 season, where he scored twice in 11 appearances.
• Goalkeeper Tom Billson is another product of the clubs academy, but made just one first-team appearance, during an EFL Cup defeat against Gillingham. He has enjoyed two loan spells with Scunthorpe United, as well as a brief stint with Kidderminster Harriers.
• Defender George Burroughs is a lifelong Skyblues fan and the younger brother of first-team member Jack Burroughs. He has enjoyed a loan stint with AFC Telford United last season, where he managed to score his first career goal. 
• Ricardo Dinanga was brought into the club, back in May 2022, signing from Irish side Cork City. However, despite a promising start, he found game-time hard to come by and had two loan stints with Hereford and Nuneaton last season, missing the crucial penalty for the latter, which cost them promotion.
• Midfielder Aiden Finnegan was brought into the club, after he was let go by fellow Championship side Birmingham City. He made a handful of appearances and enjoyed a loan stay with Alvechurch, towards the end of the 2022/23 season.
• Jay McGrath was signed from Mickelover Sports and was the U21s captain for the opening matches of the season. In early 2023, McGrath signed for Irish top flight side St. Patricks Athletic and is currently enjoying his stay with the club.
• Striker Harrison Nee was the top scorer at U18s level, during the 2021/22 season, but the following campaign was mixed with injuries. He enjoyed a stint with Non-League side Barwell, where he grabbed his first senior goal and made the first-team bench, earlier in the season.
• Finally, full-back Blaine Rowe has been released, following a very impressive loan stint with Scottish League One side Falkirk. The defender started in all of the clubs league games from February onwards, grabbing a couple of assists and became a firm fans favourite. 

Thank you to all of the eight U21s players for their efforts and we wish them the very best of luck in the future!