Where Are Coventry City's Released Players Now?

Josh Pask - The New Saints FC (Cymru Premiership)

The first player on the list, was centre-back Josh Pask. The 25-year-old, joined the football club from Premier League side West Ham United back in Summer 2019 on a free transfer. Upon signing for the club, Pask was ruled out with an injury and didn't return until November 2019, when he featured and scored on his debut, during an FA Cup replay against Bristol Rovers. Throughout his time at the club, Pask was nothing more than a back-up option and he really struggled to find any sort of consistent game-time at the club. This was also linked to a series of minor injuries in the process, causing him to have a stop-start spell at the club. Following a lack of game-time, he was loaned out in January 2022 to League Two side Newport County where he began to really impress until he suffered a muscular injury which haulted his progress with the club. When the season came to a close, Pask was released following the expiry of his contract. 

Many tipped Pask with a return to Newport County, especially with the clubs manager stating he wanted the player back on a permanent deal. However, this made his next move even more bizarre, when he signed for Welsh side The New Saints FC on a free transfer. Despite sitting at a low-level, the side have featured in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers and he has also made two appearances in this seasons UEFA Conference League, before his side crashed out. He has struggled for minutes this season, and the niggling injuries have slowly creeped back into the picture, with the defender yet to feature for the club in the league so far. 

It is a sad demise for a player that showed glimpses of quality at times. He has speed, arial presence and determination but is struggling to overcome some basic injuries which has had a negative affect on what could have been a very exciting career for him. However, at 25-years-old, there is still plenty of time for him to turn that career around and I hope we see him back in the EFL one day. 

Jodi Jones - Oxford United (EFL League One)

One of the more heart-felt departures that the Skyblues have faced in years, was the departure of winger Jodi Jones in the summer. Jones joined the Skyblues as a teenager, originally on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge back in the 2015/2016 season. During his first permanent season, he grabbed his first career goals and assists and began to win Mark Robins, who recently returned to the club. During the opening match of the 2017/18 League Two season, he scored a hat-trick against Notts County and attracted attention of Everton, Leeds and Manchester City until his career came to a hault, following an ACL injury against Stevenage. He missed the remainder of that season before returning during the 2018/19 season. On his return match, he scored the late winner against Southend United before picking up a second ACL injury against Peterborough. He continued to battle hard and then in training just before the start of the next season, Jones suffered a third successive ACL injury, forcing him to miss all of the 2020/21 season. In his final season, he had small, niggling injuries but managed to make twelve first team appearances, including an assist against Huddersfield Town. However, he decided to part ways with the club, opting against a proposed new deal in order to gain minutes elsewhere. 

Over the next few weeks as pre-season began, Jodi Jones linked up with League One side Oxford United for their pre-season tour of Spain before having a brief week at Championship rivals Reading FC. However, he eventually signed a one-year-deal for League One side Oxford United after impressing in pre-season and even featured against the Skyblues during his trial period, where he was given a proper send off by the travelling fans. However, under Karl Robinson, Jones has been limited to just eight appearances in all competitions, mainly as a substitute option. Rumours have began to emerge that he has had a falling out with the manager and was reportedly placed on the loan list towards the end of August. He has played just seven minutes of league football this season, and only played the full match once, during an EFL Trophy game against Chelsea's U21s. The biggest turning point for him personally, was his call-up to represent Malta at international level, and made his debut during a Nations League tie against Estonia in September, before providing an assist during a friendly against Israel. 

Life at the Kassam Stadium hasn't gone the way he wanted, and is facing another transfer move in January, but for the sake of his career, I think every Coventry fan will want to see him thrive once again, and find a side willing to play him and play to his strengths.

Jonny Ngandu - Hamilton Academical (Scottish Championship)

The first of two Coventry City U21s departures, saw the captain Jonny Ngandu say his goodbyes to the football club. Ngandu is a product of the Coventry City academy and rose through the club's youth system, picking up the reputation of someone who is definitely one to keep a close eye on. After battling his way up to the clubs U23s (now U21s), Ngandu immediately hit the ground running, and made his first team debut during a 2017 EFL trophy match against Cheltenham Town. Following the departure of young keeper Corey Addai, Ngandu was promoted to captain of the clubs U23s. He had a brief loan spell with Icelandic side Keflavik, where he helped his side to win promotion to the first division. Last season, Ngandu led his side to the PDL (Professional Development League) final against Bristol City, which the Skyblues won and he scored a vital goal to get there. However, the day before the game, his departure was confirmed, meaning he ended his Coventry career winning the trophy at Ashton Gate. 

Out of the four released players, Ngandu was the quickest to find a new club, moving up to Scotland to sign for second-tier side Hamilton Academical on a free transfer after impressing on a brief trial period. The 21-year-old has become one of the clubs main midfielders this season, making nine appearances for the club including a further five in cup competitions but is yet to contribute to a goal or assist. He has however started four of his sides last five league matches, being an unused substitute during last weekend's defeat against Raith Rovers. 

Ngandu was a player who was always linked with a call-up to the first team but the constant improvement and promotions cut short any opportunity he ever had, before it had even got started. Now, he has found a club that love him and have been willing to give him the opportunity to grab consistent first team minutes at a good level, and we wish him all the best going forward.

Aaron Evans-Harriott - Evesham United (Southern League Div. One South)

The final player released by the Skyblues last summer, was U23s midfielder Aaron Evans-Harriott. The youngster joined the club back in January 2020, from Cheltenham Town for an undisclosed fee after rumours began to float round in the months prior. He did originally hold the record for the EFL's youngest ever player and when he joined the club, he was immediately put in the club's U18s. Following a season at that level, his performances began to stand-out, developing a strong partnership with striker Harrison Nee and young players like Evan Eghosa and Callum Perry. He was floating around the U23s set-up towards the back end of the season but was eventually released by the club. 

Upon his release, Evans-Harriott completed a free transfer to local side Evesham United, following the expiry of his Coventry City contract. Tipped to play as a winger or false nine, Evans-Harriott is now in the process of being transformed into a much-more attacking option, rather than a standard central midfielder like Jamie Allen. However, he is still yet to feature for the club this season despite signing in July 2022 on a free transfer. Simply put, the footballer never quite lived up to the expectational or shear quality that the Skyblues had and a departure was most-definitely the correct call for him at this stage, because he has to get game-time, otherwise it will hold him back drastically, further down the time. 

Evans-Harriott always had talent, that was never a secret. However, we never played to his strengths during his time at the CBS Arena, and it would be brilliant to see him return to the heights of the EFL one day that's for sure.