League Two Champions elect Swindon Town has offered two second year Apprentices one-year professional contracts.
Goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell and midfielder Miles Storey have both been offered terms with the Club which will see them return for pre-season with the first team ahead of the 2012/13 season.
However, second year scholars Joe Chapman, Harry Grant, Chris Sim, Eddie Stevens and Ben Whitehead have not been offered professional contracts.
Bedwell came up through the Town ranks and due to injuries to Phil Smith and Mark Scott, the young stopper began the 2011/12 season on the Town first team bench.
Bedwell is a Swindon Town fan and is desperate to make a success of his time with the club.
Storey, who can play in midfield or up front, joined the Club in the summer of 2010 and made his first team debut from the bench at the end of the 2010/11 season as a 78th minute substitute against Oldham Athletic on Saturday 30th April.
He came off the bench again seven days later in the last game of the season at Tranmere Rovers.
He is also top scorer for the youth team this term with 18 goals to his name. He has made three first-team appearances this term under Manager Paolo Di Canio.
“This is always an extremely difficult part of the season, when members of the youth team are advised that the option of a first year professional contract is being denied them,” Chief Executive, Nick Watkins told the Club’s website.
“They work tirelessly throughout the two years of their Apprenticeship programme both on the field and in the classroom and so it is always disappointing when the end goal is not achieved.”
“When deciding who is to be offered a professional contract it is important that the individual in question has a very realistic opportunity of featuring in the first team set up during their first year.”
“There is nothing more de-motivating than for a young professional to find themselves having limited opportunity to play competitive football, so playing competitive football within the Swindon Town FC environment is a key to the decision making process.”
“With the strong prospect of League One football next season, this challenge is even greater.”
