Pic: Mike Capps
ILKESTON could be set for a windfall in excess of £600,000 should former star Che Adams clinch a move to the Premier League – and they have vowed to reinvest it to keep their conveyor belt of talent oiled.
The NLP understands Southampton and AFC Bournemouth have joined Manchester City in the race to sign the Sheffield United whiz-kid.
The 19-year-old left the Robins production line in 2014 and the Evo-Stik NPL Premier club insisted on a 20 per cent sell-on as part of the deal.
City tested the water with a £3m bid, but, with no agreement yet reached between the clubs, south-coast rivals Bournemouth and Southampton are looking to hijack the move.
A bidding war could begin and that is great news for Ilkeston, who are on the verge of another fee for another of their teenage discoveries, Ashley Hunter.
Attacking midfielder Adams has starred for the Blades in League One and, following the instant impact of Tottenham's Dele Alli since his arrival from MK Dons in the same division, top clubs are now more keen to buy from below.
Excited Robins chairman Nigel Harrop is beaming with pride at Adams' progress but stressed that, should he secure a switch to the Premier League, the cashwill be used to help find the next big star.
He told The NLP: “First and foremost, if Che does move on there won't be anyone prouder than the people of Ilkeston. His progress since he left us has been absolutely fantastic to watch and I'm excited for him.
“There's nothing more fulfilling than seeing players our club has brought on develop even further. I still go and watch as many of them as possible, when time allows, but he is the one they're all talking about at the moment.
“Our model is something different. Our main aim is to produce young players and keep the club going. Some of our fans do find it difficult to buy into, but we must persevere with it.
“Nothing has happened yet, and we're certainly not spending the money already. But if he does get a big move, then we will reinvest anything that does come our way into doing it all again. We have lots and lots of ideas, but we need more money to do them!”
The potential Adams jackpot may not be the end of it. It's understood a number of Premier League and top-end Football League clubs are keeping tabs on Hunter, now at League One side Fleetwood Town.
The 20-year-old left Ilkeston for what was described as a “sizeable undisclosed sum” in January and has made a big impact with the Cod Army in the third tier. A sell-on was also inserted.
Harrop added: “Ash has taken to that level like a duck to water. We now have eight players who have gone on into the Football League and clearly we are watching their progress with interest.”
