Carlisle United can confirm that academy midfielder Kai Nugent has been offered a one-year contract (with an option) at the end of his successful two-year scholarship spell.
Carlisle-born Nugent, who turned 18 last month, was part of the first-team squad for the Papa Johns Trophy away game at Barrow in October and has been with the club’s academy all the way through the age groups.
The lively playmaker started a successful loan spell with Danny Grainger’s promotion-chasing Workington side in February and is currently playing his part in their end of season run-in.
“It’s great for Kai and he deserves it for the work he’s done over the two years,” youth boss Mark Birch said. “He’s bought into everything we’ve done, he’s done it right and done everything that’s been asked of him.
“He embraced going out on loan, he understood the benefit of that, and he’s been down at Workington and done it properly. Fair play to him for that, it’s important that young players understand why things are done and how it can impact positively, as this has for Kai.
“When an U18 player goes to a men’s club that has a lot to play for there is a question mark over whether or not they’ll adapt, because it is a different environment.
“He’s embraced the challenge of trying to help them to achieve the success they want and from what I’m hearing he’s shown a great attitude.
“It’s been a major plus and, looking at it, it’s something we hope to do more of going forward in the future.
“For Kai, he’s worked hard to get this reward but, and we say this every year, the hard work doesn’t stop. Going into next season as a first-year pro is a big, big step and has to do everything he can to break into the next level.
“He needs to earn the manager’s trust by doing everything to a high standard on and off the pitch, and it’s one of the hardest transitions to make.”
Fellow second-years Matt Bell, Nic Bollado, Lewis Boyd, Harvey Gordon, Mason Hardy, Dan Hill and Alex Potts have been released on completion of their respective scholarships, and the club wishes them well as they move on to their next challenge.
“The majority of them did it right, and sometimes you can sit there and try to find reasons why contracts haven’t been offered,” the youth team gaffer added. “Sometimes you have to accept that the right decision has been made for them and they have to move on.
“There are different routes to becoming a footballer and what you have to do is show real determination to figure out the best route for you.
“I think Owen Moxon is a great example of that. He’s shown what can be done if you keep that belief in yourself. All of them will want to play at the highest possible level they can so that they perhaps get a shot at getting back into playing football full-time.
“We’ll help them as much as we can. We have local contacts, so we’ll speak to them if they want us to, and whatever they want to do or whatever career they want to go forward with, we have a duty of care to use the contacts we have to try to help them as much as we can.
“I’ve said this before as well, but for me personally it’s the night of the year I least look forward to. You know it has to be done, right from the start of the season, but once the decisions are shared it’s all about looking forward for everybody.
“Those who haven’t been successful, you have to plan forward. Most of them won’t have too many regrets, they’ll know they’ve worked hard as youth team players, but there may be one or two who will wish they’d done certain things differently.
“As a squad we have to look forward as well, and we have a crop of first years who now head into their important second season, and we’ll do what we can to help them to progress over the coming months.”
