Gutted for all of them. It was I felt inevitable but its still disappointing now it has finally happened. Professional- development contracts a complete waste of time. The initiative hasn't "bridged the gap" at all and concerns about their ability to bridge any gap were being flagged up in the first couple months of the season. I think the fact the only one who could easily terminate his time, as he was signing month to month deals, did so after only two months was an indicator they weren't perhaps what had been expected. It was clear from Ben Steer's body language the first half of the season he wasn't impressed, just looked frustrated the whole time.
They weren't even registered, which is why my understanding is why Jordan Bentley was played out of position, in a game which as events turned out may have damaged his prospects here, instead of Bill Palfrey.
Inevitable when Jack wasn't even touted as even cover for Left back, I don't see what more he (or any of them) could have done in the SWPL to have justified even getting to train with the first team, none of them have been doing that. The whole thing has been one long, drawn out, sorry saga.
But Argyle got some talented lads, coaching in the community on the cheap, traveling the county at their own expense to do it. I think in their current guise these contracts are completely unfit for purpose and should be dead in the water, if they offered again its going to have to be with vastly improved Ts & Cs and more commitments to the players written in. If they don't change I sincerely hope we do not penalise anyone who turns one down and stop them from being able to get anything else.
Reality probably is its a bit of both but I think they've been more failed by the club than they've failed themselves. I think they can all hold their heads high, they've remained the consummate professionals in what must have been an extremely frustrating year.
Thanks for the commitment, effort and entertainment lads, its been great watching you grow as players and as people, wish all of them the very best for the future.