New Reading FC Signing Praised For Off-Field Attitude

In an era where football agents (or intermediaries as they like to be called now...) seem to dominate transfer dealings, one of Reading's summer signings has made himself stand out.

Striker Rowan Liburd joined the Royals on a developmental deals after a season where he scored 22 times for Isthmian League side Billericay. While some will write the 22-year-old off as just another Brett Williams or Karl Sheppard, his former club have high hopes for him. Those hopes were only heightened by the forward's attitude off the pitch that included snubbing the use of an agent.

Former manager Craig Edwards has told the Brentwood Gazette...

"First off, I am absolutely delighted for Rowan, who fully deserves his chance at Reading,

Ironically, Rowan could have been our second player going to Reading in a year because Isaac Layne was over there last season.

He had an agent that was too pushy, asking for too much and they didn't like how he conducted his business.

They said to me if it had been conducted differently like it was for Rowan then there would have been every chance they would have signed him as well.

Rowan's a good lad, very level-headed and has good advice from his parents.

These kids that get involved with agents that push them from pillar to post end up looking back on their career and realising they haven't done anything for them.

He's given himself every chance to make it because he's listened to good advice and he's reaped the benefits of it.

Too many players at our level are sucked in by these agents, but they don't need them at this level and Rowan is a fine example of how it can work without one."

The youngster's desire to just get a deal done is certainly a refreshing bit of news coming after a series of contract disputes and wrangles in Reading's not so distant past. It's also nice to see the club not being afraid to turn down a different prospect because he's got a questionable attitude, something that you have to hope will only encourage other potential signings and those currently within the Academy.

Best of luck to Rowan at the club and here's hoping his positive attitude off the pitch soon translates to goals on it.