Noel Whelan

Sat 4 September 2021 18:00, UK

Noel Whelan has insisted everyone at Leeds United deserves “huge credit” after Robbie Gotts and Jordan Stevens sealed moves to Barrow.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker paid credit to the coaches for developing the youngsters into Football League-ready talents.

Leeds confirmed both Gotts and Stevens, both 21, had joined Barrow permanently on deadline day (31st August).

Stevens joined Leeds from Forest Green Rovers back in 2018.

Meanwhile, Gotts is a graduate of Leeds’ academy and spent 15 years with the club.

Both players managed to make their senior debuts at Elland Road before leaving.

Whelan heralded the academy staff for their work in developing the pair.

He also applauded club chiefs for allowing the duo to depart in search of senior football.

“Huge credit goes to everybody, starting from the top down to the academy system,” Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.

“The hours they’ve put into these players and made them into first-team players at times. Them being in the first-team squad in itself is a success.

“That’s what you want as a coach. You want to be able to coach them, improve them, give them that belief in those tools to go out there and push for a first-team place.

“If it’s not going to be and it doesn’t happen, then the club are good enough and honest enough to let the players out and get some proper game time underneath.

“That will progress them even further in their careers. You become a stronger player with more belief when you’re playing week in, week out at a club in the Football League.

“When you get to under-23s, you get to a point. Then it’s where can you go to improve your game and get that 90 minutes. Everything is about stamina,.

“It’ll make them grow up a lot quicker playing in that sort of division and league with real games on a Saturday afternoon and a Tuesday, Wednesday evening.”

In other news, surprise Leeds United player tipped as Patrick Bamford replacement after bid development.