Mark Robins urged home-grown striker George Thomas to continue his development in Coventry City’s first team rather than risk being thrown into an Under-23s Premier League squad.
Although torn at the time, the then 20-year-old opted to switch to his home town club Leicester City off the back of playing a starring role in the Sky Blues win in the Checkatrade Trophy.
But three years on and the likeable lad has been released by the Foxes without playing a single first-team game for the East Midlands side that has established itself in the upper echelons of the top flight.
Thomas came up through the ranks at the Sky Blues and made more than 50 appearances for the club.
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He made his debut as a 16-year-old in January 2014 and, most famously, went on to score against Oxford United to help secure the Football League Trophy with a 2-1 victory at Wembley in 2017.
In that season, he netted nine times in 36 matches for Coventry.
Thomas has been an unused substitute for Leicester on three occasions, when Claude Puel was in charge, but failed to make the breakthrough to the senior side.
He spent last season on loan at Scunthorpe United.
And after captaining the Foxes’ Under-23s in the first half of this term, spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Alan Pardew’s ADO Den Haag, until the 2019-20 term was cut short in the Netherlands.
The 23-year-old now finds himself a free agent and on the lookout for a new club.
There will be some Sky Blues fans who feel he should come back while others believes the club have moved on, having gained two promotions in the space of three seasons to get back to the Championship.
Here’s what fans have been saying:
Tony Grumbt: “Good luck to him. You know how it is, footballers don’t play forever so they grab ever penny they can before they retire.
A manager on the other hand can manage, coach or even have another role at the club for years, years and years. They all leave eventually these players but let’s not forget his goal at Wembley! Good Luck Georgie Boy!”
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Roland Payne: “A lesson in how not to develop your career… See Connor Thomas, Tom Bayliss, Ben Stevenson.”
Chris Twigger: “Well that surprised no one. Seems a nice guy, half decent player. Wouldn’t get in our team now.”
Lee Lishman: “Still love that goal against Oxford!”
Paul Simpson: I’d have him back at City.”
Dan Jardim: “You can’t blame the kid for his move, when a premier league team comes calling and you are playing in L1/2 you’d have to have a screw loose to turn it down. Shame it hasn’t worked out for him.”
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Neal Mc: “At the time his goal at Wembley was my best moment in football ever!! Always a Sky Blue legend!! Wish him well wherever he goes!”
Paddy O’Reilly: “Never think you are too big for your boots! In the end you will not play in them.”
James Bannon: “Should have stayed with Cov.”
Christopher Dennis: “He could probably still do a job in L1, but he’s not good enough for us now.”
Jack Sephton New: “Give him another goo.”
Nic Jones: “Could get him back.”
Matt Evans: “It was a no brainer for him, joining his hometown club for probably a lot more money.”
Jorge Witherington: “Bring him back.”
David Owen: “At least his agent made a shed load of money.”
Shaun Clifford: “Shame he should stayed at Cov but money talks hope he gets a club.”
Liam Cook: “I’d never blame a young lad for taking a chance with a big club, but the grass isn’t always greener.”
