We are happy to confirm that we have agreed upon terms with Dylan Allen-Hadley for the forthcoming season.
Dylan joined the Bucks from Alvechurch in March, making his debut in our 1-1 draw with Bromsgrove Sporting, and contributed three goals to the remainder of our campaign, the most notable being the equaliser in our playoff semi-final victory over Halesowen Town.
Whilst Kevin Wilkin’s negotiations with Dylan have been protracted, his involvement in nearly all of our pre-season fixtures was perhaps indicative of where Dylan saw his immediate footballing future. Kevin felt that Dylan’s potential made him worth waiting for, although he admitted that it hadn’t been the most straightforward of deals to conclude.
“I’m glad we have been able to come to an agreement with Dylan. He’s a talented boy, and I feel there’s a lot more to come from him, but obviously we have to work to a budget and as manager it’s my job to get the best value I can. I think supporters know they can expect that from me.”
Although initially referring to Dylan, Kevin’s wider point about the club environment is one that’s pertinent on the eve of the new season.
“I want to work with players whom we can develop and whose game we can improve, and that’s the same whether they’re closer to the end of their careers than the start. Wanting to improve, and to adapt and to learn are qualities I like – when you’re working with players who are keen to grow and develop, it makes it a really positive place to be.”
“We’re going up against full-time teams this season. That’s the challenge and the situation in which we find ourselves, but it’s the challenge we want and one we should enjoy. Our initial goal was to get this club back to its previous level, and we worked hard to do that, but we’ve got to continue to work hard – getting promotion wasn’t “job done”. There’ll be bumps in the road, but we can close the gap on those established teams by making this as professional a club as we can on a semi-professional budget, and having a positive and supportive environment that players enjoy working in.”
With Dylan set to take the no.11 shirt and with both Alfie and Freddie, today’s other squad additions, now on board, it’s next stop King’s Lynn for opening day, but not without us saying:
Welcome back, Dylan!
